B.C. Human Rights Commissioner says stigmatizing drug use is a violation

British Columbia's Human Rights Commissioner Kasari Govender criticized the provincial government's handling of the opioid crisis, asserting that its stigma-based approach constitutes a human rights violation. In her statement, she argued that the government focuses on criminal justice and involuntary care rather than adopting evidence-based strategies. The BC Coroners Service reported 158 overdose deaths in September, reflecting a nearly 20 percent drop from the same month in the previous year. However, Govender noted that unregulated drug toxicity remains the leading cause of death for residents aged 19 to 59, with a daily death rate of approximately 5. 3.

She called for the implementation of safer supply and harm reduction measures, stating they could significantly reduce fatalities even if politically contentious. Govender likened the current crisis to alcohol prohibition in the 1910s, emphasizing that the issue stems from drug illegality rather than safer supply policies. She urged provincial authorities to adopt a compassionate approach that prioritizes scientific evidence over political ideology. The ongoing crisis requires urgent action comparable to the response seen during the COVID-19 pandemic, she asserted.