The federal government must make what it calls an “important communication” with the British Columbia government today about the overdose crisis.
Mental Health and Addiction Secretary Carolyn Bennett is due to join fellow Sheila Malcolmson in Vancouver to provide details of what the councilor says is a public health approach focused on harm reduction and saving lives.
The announcement is expected to be linked to BC’s request for an exemption from Canadian drug laws to decriminalize the possession of small quantities of illicit drugs for personal use by people aged 19 and over.
The province became the first in the country last November to apply for an exemption aimed at eliminating criminal penalties and reducing the stigma associated with substance use.
WATCH After record deaths from overdoses, BC decided to fight the opioid crisis:
BC is determined to fight the opioid crisis after record overdose deaths in 2021
With more than 2,200 deaths from illicit drug overdoses in 2021, British Columbia remains determined to fight the opioid crisis, even in the face of stronger street drugs and long waits for treatment.
At the time, Malcolmson said fear and shame prevented people from seeking potentially life-saving care in a province that declared a public health emergency in 2016 over a record number of opioid-related deaths.
In April, she said Health Canada’s update on the province’s request suggested it would consider a lower threshold than requests from the province, which wants a cumulative 4.5 grams for opioids, cocaine and methamphetamine.
Opioid overdose deaths reached record levels in British Columbia last year, increasing during the pandemic. BC reported 2,224 suspected overdose deaths in 2021.
Between January and September last year, at least 5,368 Canadians died of “apparent opioid toxicity,” a classification used by the Public Health Agency of Canada.
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