File Photo (Image Credit: CFJC Today)

By Lorne Doerkson, MLA for Cariboo-Chilcotin

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SOUND OFF: NDP deliver deadliest overdose results in B.C.’s history

Jan 25, 2024 | 10:30 AM

THIS WEEK THE BC CORONER SERVICE reported that in 2023, British Columbia witnessed the highest number of overdose deaths ever recorded in a calendar year.

Every life lost to an overdose is a tragedy, and my heart goes out to all who lost a loved one this year and those who have been impacted by the crisis.

This report casts a sombre shadow on the NDP government’s response to the public health crisis, that was first declared in 2016, and raises serious concerns about the leadership of Premier David Eby.

A devastating 2,511 people lost their lives to drugs in 2023, with an average of seven drug overdoses occurring a day. At least 417 of these deaths were in Interior Health, with 115 located in the Central Okanagan, and 13 in my constituency of Cariboo-Chilcotin.

This is a five percent increase from the previous record of 2,383 lives lost in 2022, coinciding with David Eby taking office as Premier, where he doubled down on the NDP’s failed response to the overdose crisis.

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The Coroner’s report is a further indictment of the NDP government’s disastrous decriminalization policy which has recklessly endangered lives. The consequences are damming and can be seen in the lives lost, families broken, and communities suffering.

When David Eby became Premier, he declared himself a man of action promising to deliver “results that people can see and feel and touch and experience in their lives.”

Well, the results are in: After seven years the NDP’s approach to the toxic drug crisis isn’t working and is actively endangering lives.

A new approach to the drug crisis is needed.

It’s time for David Eby to put politics aside and use all means possible to save lives. Doing more of the same will only continue to cost people’s lives.

A year ago, Kevin Falcon and BC United presented our Better is Possible plan, urging the government to change direction and focus on treatment and recovery.

Our plan will deliver results through a three-step approach to make treatment more accessible and affordable, increase services for complex mental health needs, and implement awareness and prevention education campaigns.

BC United will end the NDP’s reckless decriminalization experiment and provide affordable and accessible treatment by eliminating user fees at publicly funded addiction treatment beds.

We will also build a minimum of five regional recovery communities for addiction treatment where residents can stay for up to a year to receive individualized, holistic, long-term residential treatment.

Importantly, we will prioritize awareness and prevention by creating and delivering youth-focused public education campaigns about addiction and recovery and establishing workplace campaigns to assist employees in recognizing substance use disorders and better-supporting employees in recovery.

It’s clear the NDP’s approach to the toxic drug crisis has failed and is actively putting our communities and loved ones at risk. Better is possible, we just need a government bold enough to act.

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Editor’s Note: This opinion piece reflects the views of its author, and does not necessarily represent the views of CFJC Today or Pattison Media.