British Columbia Families Demand Action on Drug Crisis Amid Rising Deaths

Families in British Columbia gathered at the legislature on Overdose Prevention Day to honor loved ones lost to the ongoing drug crisis, which has claimed over 17,000 lives since the public health emergency was declared in April 2016. Among the attendees was Glenn Mahoney, who shared his heart-wrenching story of his son, Michael Mahoney, who developed a substance use disorder at age 13 after being prescribed oxycodone. Michael’s life ended tragically at the age of 21 when he died alone in his car, a fate that has befallen many in the province.

The gathering highlighted the alarming fact that an additional 2,000 people have died from toxic drug use in the last year alone. Mahoney expressed his frustration, stating, “I always find it shocking that people aren’t outraged at this level of death.” The event featured poignant displays, including participants lying on the steps of the legislature, covered with signs that read, “They were so loved,” and photos of the deceased strung along a fence.

In her speech, former B.C. chief coroner Lisa Lapointe emphasized that drug toxicity remains the leading cause of death for individuals aged 19 to 59 in the province. She questioned the lack of governmental response, stating, “What could be more important?” and called for standardized, evidence-based, free treatment options.

Despite their educational backgrounds, Glenn and his wife, Jan, struggled to navigate the healthcare system to find help for Michael. They resorted to expensive private treatment programs, which they felt stigmatized those who required prescribed psychiatric medications. “In every step, you’re punished and stigmatized,” Glenn lamented.

Michael’s case was notably referenced by the coroners’ death review panel in 2020, highlighting the family’s numerous interactions with the healthcare system, including denied applications by Island Health and rejection from community psychiatrists. “At every point and every encounter, the system made his condition worse,” Glenn stated, calling it a failure of public policy.

Both Lapointe and Kelsey Roden, a physician and co-founder of Doctors for Safer Drug Policy, stressed that while there has been progress with overdose prevention sites and safe supply initiatives, the ongoing stigma and prohibition surrounding drug use continue to contribute to rising death rates.

Lapointe pointed to actionable steps that could significantly reduce fatalities, stressing the need to recognize the crisis as a health issue. She criticized the allowance of private residential treatment centers to charge tens of thousands of dollars for unregulated services and advocated for pharmaceutical alternatives as a critical component in stabilizing individuals and moving them away from the chaotic drug trade.

For the Mahoney family, the fight is far from over. They remain committed to advocating for systemic change to prevent other families from enduring similar losses. Jan Mahoney reflected on her son’s vibrant life, describing him as a “creative, artistic, funny, caring and polite” young man who once sang with the Victoria Opera.

“If I have to be here every year until I’m 100 … I’m gonna be here to tell the government that this is not good enough. These lives matter,” she declared, underscoring the deep emotional impact of the ongoing crisis and the urgent need for effective policy changes.