Sheila Malcolmson, Minister of Mental Health and Addictions, has released the following statement regarding the BC Coroners Service’s report on illicit drug toxicity deaths in July 2022:

“In July of this year, we lost 192 lives to the poisoned-drug supply. These were our neighbours, friends, family and members of our community. These are terrible losses.

“This week, as I meet municipal leaders from throughout the province, I am grateful for those who have used the tools local governments have to help end the poisoned-drug crisis and prevent loss of life. This crisis has hit all communities in our province. Everyone has been affected.  

“Since 2017, we’ve been working urgently to build a system of mental-health and substance-use care that works for everyone. In the past five years, we’ve opened more than 300 new adult and youth treatment and recovery beds. More than 3,200 treatment beds are available in British Columbia.

“The street drug supply continues to be terribly, increasingly toxic. In the first months of 2020, the concentration of fentanyl detected in illicit drug deaths was between 4% and 8%. In July 2022, it increased to 23%.

“That is why we continue to expand much-needed harm-reduction services, particularly safe supply and inhalation overdose prevention sites, and we are leading the country on decriminalization of people who use drugs.

“There is more to do. I am committed to continuing to expand and evolve our government’s response to this public-health emergency to turn the tide and save lives.”

Learn More:

For updated actions on the drug poisoning response, visit:
https://news.gov.bc.ca/factsheets/escalated-drug-poisoning-response-actions-1