The recent report from the Chief Coroner served as a devastating reminder that not enough is being done to solve B.C.’s deadly opioid crisis. In 2023, 2,511 lives in our province were lost as a result of the toxic drug crisis that continues to worsen year after year.
The news of these tragic deaths came on the eve of the one-year anniversary of the NDP’s launch of their reckless decriminalization experiment: a pilot project that was implemented without proper guardrails in place.
Municipalities have had to grapple with the challenges of open drug use in spaces occupied by children, all with little support or direction from the provincial government for most of the past year.
I will often hear from families who are concerned for the safety of their children, due to drug use and drug paraphernalia being present at places such as parks and playgrounds. I also hear from families who desperately want to help their loved one who is struggling with addiction.
Unfortunately, our current system fails to provide support for those who need it, and we have also been failing to help our youth understand the dangers of drug use, which will only continue to fuel the cycle of addiction.
Doing more of the same isn’t working. We need a different approach that will prioritize helping people get well.
Seeing the NDP’s failure to address the lack of treatment and recovery options in our province, BC United announced our Better is Possible plan that prioritizes a recovery-oriented system of care that will help people get better.
Our plan will deliver results through a multi-step approach that will make treatment more accessible and affordable, increase services for complex mental health needs, and implement awareness and prevention education campaigns. We will also end the NDP’s decriminalization experiment.
United, we can build a better future for B.C.
Jackie Tegart is the BC United MLA for Fraser-Nicola.