Doesn't everyone wish the BC government's response to the drug overdose crisis were nearly as prompt and decisive as its response to the COVID pandemic?
Moms Stop The Harm organised two events to commemorate the 6th Anniversary of British Columbia declaring a public health emergency over the drug overdose crisis, demanding a safe drug supply to put a stop to the death toll now exceeding 9000.
First the protesters gathered at Centennial Square at 11h00, where multiple speakers openly denounced government inaction in this crisis, wishing it put nearly as much effort into it than into the COVID pandemic (even though their respective death tolls are comparable). Indeed there’s a lot of stigmatisation pertaining to drug use that is making it look unpalatable to government officials (and let’s be frank, much of the public in general).
Then the protesters marched across town to Health Minister Adrian Dix’s office at 1515 Blanshard Street. Volunteers distributed Naloxone kits and even offered training on site.
Notably absent were police officers, which is unusual for a protest that takes to the streets. Sadly, this must mean authorities intend to ignore this protest like they ignored all the previous ones.
Later today, at 18h00, MSTH held a second event, a candlelit vigil, at Harris Green Park on Pandora Avenue. Several speakers came forward to tell their stories of losing a loved one to an unsafe drug supply. Ironically, a firefighter truck and two ambulances rushed to The Harbour (a harm reduction site) during the event, no doubt answering yet another overdose call.
So, when is the government going to take the situation seriously? My bet is that it won’t happen until a group like MSTH pulls a Section 504; nothing short of that will pull either the government or the wider public out of their apathy. Until then the toll will keep mounting and the government will keep shrugging.
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Although the event was a relative success, its outcome leaves me most apprehensive. Regretfully, we had to end it early.
