Thirty-five people died from toxic drugs in New Westminster last year, among more than 1,700 provincewide.
Leslie McBain, with Moms Stop the Harm, said in a press conference Feb. 11 that incremental actions by the provincial and federal governments have helped but have not been enough to halt the impact of a toxic drug supply.
She called on the Premier John Horgan to tell people of the plan to address the crisis moving forward. And she referenced the premier’s mandate letter to the minister of mental health and addictions, which called for fast-tracking decriminalization.
“That was six months ago,” she said. “We need this now; we needed it five years ago.”
McBain was joined by Abbotsford Police Department Chief Const. Mike Serr and chief coroner Lisa Lapointe, who both called for decriminalization of drug users.
“Decriminalization is a step. We have not seen it move along fast enough,” Lapointe said, pointing to a spring 2019 plan from provincial health officer Dr. Bonnie Henry for de facto decriminalization of drug users at a provincial level. “We have not seen any change. Of course, things have to start with asking questions and writing letters, but there needs to be some serious motivation and intention at every level of government.”
Lapointe said there has been urgency from the City of Vancouver, which asked the federal government for a local exemption from enforcement on drug possession, but said the senior levels of governments need to take more action.
Lapointe added the province needs stronger regulations on recovery centres, including creating standards for treatment based on what works – something that was called for by a coroners service death panel and which has still not been implemented.
She said there still isn’t data being collected by the province on how many people have sought recovery services, which services they’re seeking and what is working.
While there have been some pilot programs for introducing safe supply, Lapointe said that needs to be expanded and made a standard for people who need it.
FEDERAL ACTION NEEDED
Lapointe was also asked about the fact the federal government has not declared the issue a national health crisis.
She told reporters she believes federal officials would change their tune if they sat down with Moms Stop the Harm and heard their stories.
“We are losing thousands and thousands of people and thousands and thousands of years of life,” Lapointe said.
“It is frustrating. It’s very frustrating. … You do just feel like throwing your hands in the air and saying ‘What’s the use?’” she added on the repeated conversations about the drug toxicity crisis followed by only incremental changes.
But she said the urgency of the situation continues to motivate her to keep working with policymakers to mitigate the crisis.
New Westminster’s 35 deaths in 2020 is the second-highest number ever recorded in the city; 2018 was the worst year, with 36 deaths. That number had dropped to 20 in 2019 but began climbing again with the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic last year.
The City of New Westminster and Fraser Health are working to open an overdose prevention site in the city in the hopes of turning the tide on drug toxicity deaths. The Lower Mainland Purpose Society will operate a new centre on Begbie Street that will offer witnessed consumption, drug testing, harm reduction supplies, take-home naloxone kits and more.
City staff and Fraser Health are working to try to have plans ready for council’s consideration of a temporary use permit by March 30. Funding for the centre is to be in place as of March 31.
– with files from Theresa McManus
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