‘Very Bad’: Poll Shows British Columbians Displeased With Gov’t on Opioid Crisis

To the surprise of few, a new poll says British Columbians are “displeased” with how politicians are handling the opioid crisis.

Conducted by Vancouver’s ResearchCo., the survey says more than half of British Columbians think Prime Minister Justin Trudeau — and the federal government in its entirety — has done a “bad” or “very bad” job devising solutions for the opioid crisis.

The study was conducted from May 17 to May 19 among 800 adults in BC, and more than 60% of British Columbians polled described the situation as a “major problem.”

Now the leading cause of unnatural death in the province, the overdose crisis was declared a public health emergency in BC in 2016. Since then, more than 11,000 British Columbians have died as a result of illicit drugs.

On a larger scale, the Public Health Agency of Canada estimates a total 32,632 opioid toxicity deaths occurred nationwide between January 2016 and June 2022 — with the majority in BC, Alberta, and Ontario.

Fentanyl was detected in 88% of BC’s illicit drug deaths between July 2020 and June 2022. Moreover, there are concerns of a highly potent veterinary sedative permeating the drug supply.

A report from Health Canada says xylazine, sometimes called "tranq,” began emerging as an additive to opioids in 2019. It is most commonly mixed with fentanyl.

Xylazine hasn’t been approved for human use and can have severe and often delayed effects, such as flesh-rotting, necrotic lesions, and breathing depression.

“Since 2019, there has been an increase in the number of xylazine identifications in samples submitted to the Drug Analysis Service by Canadian law enforcement agencies,” reads the Health Canada report, further noting identifications jumped from 205 in 2019 to 2,324 in 2022.

The number of samples in BC quadrupled from 58 in 2019 to 260 in 2022.

When asked about safe supply, ResearchCo. says most British Columbians support the establishment of programs where "alternatives to opioids" can be prescribed by health professionals.

BC's safe supply policy does include the prescription of opioids.

"People who use drugs and who are at high risk of dying from the toxic illicit drug supply will be able to access alternatives covered by Pharmacare, including a range of opioids and stimulants as determined by programs and prescribers," reads the policy.

The ResearchCo. survey also shows nearly 60% support for supervised injection sites; fewer BC residents (40%) are in favour of decriminalizing all drugs for personal use.

“More than half of British Columbians who voted for the BC Liberals in 2020 (55%) agree with safe supply programs,” said Mario Canseco, President of Research Co.

“The level of support is higher among those who cast ballots for the BC New Democratic Party (68%) or the BC Green Party (73%) in the last provincial election.”

Last year the federal government announced British Columbians will be exempt from the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act for possession up to 2.5 grams of opioids, meth, cocaine, etc.

BC is the first Canadian province to receive an exemption under the act, which will be in effect until January 31, 2026 throughout the entire province.

More recently, the province announced it will spend an additional $184 million over three years to support “safer substance use for those living with mental health issues and addictions.”

“This includes providing safe prescription alternatives, such as diacetylmorphine, to help reduce the harmful effects of the toxic drug supply and connect people with supports and treatment,” said the province.

Diacetylmorphine is more commonly known as heroin.