‘This is the wrong direction to be heading’: Premier reacts to illicit drug death report

VICTORIA—Premier John Horgan reacted to the announcement of the highest number of deaths to illicit drug use this afternoon (July 16) in a media availability.

Horgan began his address touching on the news from the B.C. Coroners Service in which a “shocking” 175 deaths to illicit drug use were reported in June. The number illicit drug deaths are the highest number of deaths ever in B.C., for the second month in a row. Horgan saying that “this is the wrong direction to be heading.”

According to Horgan the spike in deaths may be due to the province’s other ongoing crisis, COVID-19. With the clean drug supply being affected by the pandemic the Premier says that street supply has become more prevalent.

Additionally Horgan mentioned that millions of trees were planted this year across the province despite COVID-19 concerns.