Why were toxic drug deaths in B.C. down 21% in 2025? (www.cbc.ca)

submitted 1 day ago by HellsBelle@sh.itjust.works to c/canada@lemmy.ca

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New research using drug-checking results could provide an insight into why toxic drug death tolls have been on a downward trend for two years now in B.C.

But scientists and officials say there are likely multiple factors behind exactly why the number of drug-related deaths in B.C. dropped by 21 per cent in 2025 compared to the previous year.

Though the number of overdose deaths have been dropping sharply across North America, those working in the field say there's no reason to celebrate given thousands continue to die, and efforts to stop deaths should be stepped up.

"It's not necessarily a decline in the crisis itself. The drug supply is still as toxic and unpredictable as ever, if not more so," said Samuel Tobias, a researcher at the B.C. Centre on Substance Use and PhD candidate at the University of British Columbia.

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[-] NotSteve_@piefed.ca 8 points 1 day ago

Dude, I live in an area (downtown Ottawa) with a lot of visibly homeless and drug use and its gotten so much worse since Ford started shutting down safe use sites. Like yay, instead of people smoking or shooting up in a safe environment with care staff, they're doing it outside on the street and outside the stores I go to

People are naturally going to drugs to one way or another and the fact that you're questioning whether those people are better off dying or not is just so fucking heartless. The cost of living has gotten so bad that average people are being forced onto the street and most people are going to fall into drugs when there's absolutely nothing else good in their lives

I hope you nor anyone you know is ever put in that sort of situation

[-] maplesaga@lemmy.world -4 points 1 day ago* (last edited 1 day ago)

I think the problem, if I can convey it properly, is a lack of action is neutral; and it isnt a bombshell. The fact we are giving them drugs which are then being sold off makes us look stupid and that is a bombshell, which immediately conveys incompetence, and that dictates peoples narratives.

[-] HellsBelle@sh.itjust.works 4 points 1 day ago

Why in the fuck do you think unhoused people who are addicted to drugs would sell off their safe supply???

Unless you have real scientific data to back that up may I suggest you sit down and be quiet.

[-] maplesaga@lemmy.world 1 points 17 hours ago* (last edited 17 hours ago)

Well it was widely reported. The drugs are less powerful, and are obviously safe supply so are worth more in resale.

https://torontosun.com/opinion/columnists/evidence-shows-safe-supply-diversion-is-a-problem

[-] lemonySplit@lemmy.ca 2 points 13 hours ago

Yet again, sun media is ameriKKKan owned propaganda. Fuck off with this shit

[-] maplesaga@lemmy.world 1 points 13 hours ago

The police are cited, it wasnt just them reporting it.

[-] lemonySplit@lemmy.ca 1 points 13 hours ago

Great then cite that and stop sharing sun media for fucksakes

[-] maplesaga@lemmy.world 1 points 13 hours ago* (last edited 13 hours ago)

Well they cited it in the article. I just searched it and that was the first one that came up.

Here's a left leaning propaganda to balance it out:

https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/safe-supply-seized-campbell-river-1.7234296

[-] HellsBelle@sh.itjust.works 1 points 16 hours ago

There are zero proofed facts in that article. Do you have a better source?

[-] maplesaga@lemmy.world 2 points 13 hours ago

This looks like one:

https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/safe-supply-seized-campbell-river-1.7234296

[-] HellsBelle@sh.itjust.works 1 points 12 hours ago

Thanks. Just a couple of things here ... the first is you seem to be lumping every addict together, even tho many are using the system appropriately. Second is that if people are broke they will sell what they have to get money -- whether that be drugs, personal items or hitting the pawn shop.

The fact is the science has shown that there are usually 2-5% of any demographic who try to get around the rules. So why are the other 95-98% treated like crap?

Eby is an asshole. Always has been. No other NDP leadership talk or operate like he does. Maybe instead of killing the program he could think of better ways to treat peopleike human beings.