YOUR PERSPECTIVE: A heartfelt call for a change in approach to B.C.’s drug crisis
-
Share on Facebook
-
Share on Bluesky
-
Share on X
- Copy Link
As we mark two different holidays this week that are dedicated to expressing love and care for one another, we are probably thinking about our loved ones more than ever. But this year, many of us are also thinking about the thousands of people in our province who have had to deal with the devastating loss of a family member or friend in the past decade as a result of the ongoing drug crisis that has taken so many lives in our province.
The tragic figures speak volumes, with a record-breaking 2,511 individuals in B.C. losing their lives to drug use in 2023. My community of Abbotsford has felt this loss acutely, with 90 lives — a staggering number for a city of our size — gone far too soon. Behind each statistic lies a human story of loss and grief that we cannot forget when we discuss this topic.
The decision by the NDP to experiment with drug decriminalization has, regrettably, not delivered on its promise to reduce harm. Rather than providing a pathway to recovery, it has led to increased rates of drug dependency, particularly alarming among our youth, and contributed to the degradation of urban centers throughout our province.
The situation in British Columbia mirrors the distressing outcomes seen in places like Portland, where well-intentioned policies have similarly struggled to stem the tide of addiction and its devastating effects on communities, with the most vulnerable in society bearing the brunt of these misguided efforts.
