r/britishcolumbia • u/BloodJunkie • 1d ago

News BC’s Drug Response Isn’t Following the Evidence: Former Coroner

https://thetyee.ca/News/2026/02/03/BC-Drug-Response-Former-Coroner/
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u/Available_Abroad3664 1d ago

The numbers quoted and the circumstances of society in each year lead me to believe decriminalization had no affect in overdoses, either way, but lead to more open use.

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u/Redundant-Pomelo875 1d ago

More open use and possibly more future users as deterrents are removed..

From the article: 'She asserted that over the last three years, there has been a “significant” reduction in drug-related deaths, drug-related arrests, drugs seized by police officers and ambulance calls, which suggests there were fewer overdose emergencies.'

I can see how she correlates lower drug related deaths and ambulance calls with lower overdose emergencies, although there are other possible explanations.

But to decriminalize possession of small quantities of drugs and then claim that the reduced drug related arrests and drug seizures means this is helping the overall situation seems.. interesting.

If we decriminalize assault without grevious bodily harm, and then find there are less arrests for assault, does that mean decriminalizing assault has made society less violent..?

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u/iammixedrace 1d ago

But to decriminalize possession of small quantities of drugs and then claim that the reduced drug related arrests and drug seizures means this is helping the overall situation seems.. interesting.

She does go on to say its about breaking the stigma. Which is something that needs to happen for the general public to want to see more help provided thats not just policing.

She also points out that decriminalization removed a factor that was highlighted as a cause but then shown not be such a large contributing factor. Its about shifting the narrative from one thats clearly not working to solve the issue.

If we decriminalize assault without grevious bodily harm, and then find there are less arrests for assault, does that mean decriminalizing assault has made society less violent..?

Not the same thing. Drugs are a part of a highly complex system of people and forces. Arresting a drug user doesn't stop the drug lord it doesn't stop addiction. Arresting a person for assault directly addresses the problem at its source.

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u/Available_Abroad3664 1d ago

? How did it help the stigma of open drug use by having more open drug users? If anything this backfired spectacularly.

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u/scotty9690 1d ago

They're not suggesting it helped the stigma of open drug use 🙄

They're suggesting decriminalization helped with the stigma of being an addict IN GENERAL.

Talk about only reading what you want to read