Brian Lilley: Evidence from B.C. and elsewhere shows drug policy not working
We’ve now had six months worth of statistics on overdose deaths in British Columbia following the move to decriminalize simple possession of all drugs. The results aren’t just less than encouraging, they should be sending people screaming in the other direction.
Driven by Medical Officer of Health Eileen de Villa, and backed by city council and police chief Myron Demkiw, Toronto has asked for an exemption from federal drug laws that is even wider than what B.C. was granted. We are told this is based on “science” and “evidence,” yet the hard numbers out of B.C. would dispute those claims.
Right now, according to the latest figures from the British Columbia Coroners Service, the province is on track for their worst year ever for drug overdose deaths — even after bringing in their decriminalization of possession on Jan. 31.
From Jan. 1 until July 31, B.C. has experienced 1,455 overdose deaths, compared to 1,362 in the same time period in 2022 and 1,279 in 2021. On a per capita basis, the province is on track for 46.2 deaths per 100,000 population, the highest ever recorded.
