Daphne Bramham: B.C. stressed harm reduction, not treatment, and leads Canada in opioid death rate

In 2022 — the seventh year of a public health emergency — the number of British Columbians who died due to the toxic supply of street drugs was the second highest on record, at least 2,272.

Among the dead were at least 65 children.

2021 was worse, with a record 2,306 deaths.

While the greatest number of deaths were in Vancouver, Surrey and Greater Victoria, it’s in the North that the rate of death is highest.

Over the years, the demographic has remained unchanged. They’re mostly men, mostly aged 30 to 59. Mostly, they die at home. No one calls for help. No help arrives then nor earlier, when some form of intervention might have set them on a different path.