Penticton council will soon share its displeasure with the B.C. government over the 17-month-old drug decriminalization program.
Municipal politicians voted 6-1 on May 21, to send a letter to the province asking it to 91裸聊视频渋mmediately halt the experimental decriminalization pilot project, and instead focus on building programs and services for recovery and treatment in both small and large communities, for those suffering from addictions.91裸聊视频�
Coun. Isaac Gilbert was the lone vote opposed to sending to letter, which came to be following a notice of motion from Coun. Helena Konanz.
The province91裸聊视频檚 drug decriminalization pilot project launched in January 2023 and is set to run until 2026.
B.C. Premier David Eby in April 2024, however, asked Health Canada to amend a previously issued exemption order to recriminalize the use of hard drugs in public.
91裸聊视频淚 believe that decriminalization was a mistake,91裸聊视频� said Coun. Amelia Boultbee. 91裸聊视频淲e were told that by destigmatizing drugs, people91裸聊视频檚 lives would be saved because they91裸聊视频檙e not going to be doing drugs alone, but that hasn91裸聊视频檛 been what91裸聊视频檚 happened. All we91裸聊视频檝e done is remove one tool from the toolbelt, which is police.91裸聊视频�
Preliminary numbers released by BC Coroners Service suggest that 2023 was the deadliest in the province91裸聊视频檚 history for toxic drug overdoses, with more than 2,500 lives lost. That equates to almost seven deaths per day.
In Penticton, a total of 22 fatal overdoses were recorded in 2023. That91裸聊视频檚 down from the record-setting 30 deaths tallied in 2022.
91裸聊视频淲hether the drugs are decriminalized or illegal, people are still going be using drugs regardless,91裸聊视频� said Gilbert. 91裸聊视频淚 think the biggest downfall the province has done is that when they did the decriminalization of drugs, they didn91裸聊视频檛 come in with the services to be able to provide to people on the street.91裸聊视频�
The first-term councillor added that although he disagrees with urging the B.C. government to halt its drug decriminalization program, he91裸聊视频檇 be in favour of formally asking the province to better support services for people who are struggling with substance abuse.
91裸聊视频淚 think we can all agree the province has done an extremely poor job of funding treatment and recovery,91裸聊视频� replied Boultbee. 91裸聊视频淧eople who decide they actually want help have to wait months or over a year before they can actually get it.91裸聊视频�
91裸聊视频淒ecriminalization has been a failed experiment,91裸聊视频� Coun. James Miller added.
Today in B.C., adults can legally possess small amounts of 91裸聊视频渟ome illicit drugs for personal use in specific places,91裸聊视频� according to the province. Those places include private homes and shelters, as well as overdose prevention and drug-checking service locations.
Mayor Julius Bloomfield said he believes decriminalization can help solve the toxic drug crisis, but more needs to be done to support those efforts.
91裸聊视频淒ecriminalization has worked in the past in different jurisdictions around the world, but only when it91裸聊视频檚 been part of a comprehensive plan,91裸聊视频� Bloomfield stated.
Council91裸聊视频檚 letter will be sent to Eby and Jennifer Whiteside, the province91裸聊视频檚 minister of mental health and addictions.
