Mass murders ,it happening again!!!!

[Ms Erica Phoenix]

Do you have a link to anything that specifies their inclusion criteria? The only thing I can find is this coroners' report:

http://www2.gov.bc.ca/assets/gov/pu...th-investigation/statistical/illicit-drug.pdf

Since it comes from BC Coroners Services itself it seems odd that they wouldn't include street deaths, club deaths, etc. since they would have that data.

Edit to add: I'm responding to the train of thought where you followed up on johnsmit's speculation that the number of deaths would be much higher than the "official number." (I think he was responding to LalaniElectrica's number of 755, which seems to be the number from this report.) You seem to be saying this official number wouldn't include street deaths etc. Yet this Coroners' Report seems to be the source of the official number and there's no indication they'd exclude them. I'm wondering if we're talking about the same thing?

Even looking at the report, it seems evident the numbers are skewed to the deaths in custody, or inside at any rate. Looking at the stats on page 5? Inside deaths are listed over 600; outside deaths 7. Does that seem accurate knowing about what the homeless population in Vancouver is facing? That just doesn't seem right with what I have heard anecdotally from people who are working with the drug users network. A cop in Yaletown told me that if they roll up on a DOA on a corner, that isn't among the OD stats. In other words, if a homeless drug user is found dead on the streets this morning in the cold, without a rig in their tied off arm, what is the actual cause of death? Exposure?

 

[clu]

Even looking at the report, it seems evident the numbers are skewed to the deaths in custody, or inside at any rate. Looking at the stats on page 5? Inside deaths are listed over 600; outside deaths 7. Does that seem accurate knowing about what the homeless population in Vancouver is facing? That just doesn't seem right with what I have heard anecdotally from people who are working with the drug users network. A cop in Yaletown told me that if they roll up on a DOA on a corner, that isn't among the OD stats. In other words, if a homeless drug user is found dead on the streets this morning in the cold, without a rig in their tied off arm, what is the actual cause of death? Exposure?

Fair enough. I appreciate the insight.

 

[Warl0ck]

Just a note .BC. has the highest number of reported drug deaths . It strange that Ontario and Quebec are lower. But they also have different criteria for having a corinor investigation for deaths in the province.
I personally don't think they want to report the amount of real drug deaths in their Provence. They report them as other cause.

These numbers may well be skewed though by the DTES. Vancouver is Colombia North for drug importation but it's also a place with a relatively temperature climate. That is attractive to addicts elsewhere in places with cold winters. Do you really want to be a homeless addict in Winnipeg? Don't quote me, but I believe that Patrol District 2 (includes DTES) uses something like 40% of the VPD police budget. Further complicating the matter is BC has a proportionally large number of native reserves, many are isolated and live in extreme poverty. All haven for illicit drugs.

As for "is it murder" well the CCC stipulates that in a homicide there must be "significant contributing cause" for a charge of murder to be laid. So is selling drugs murder? I suppose one could argue that the significant cause was the sale of drugs to the individual but the court could well say the real significant cause was the drug user ingested the toxins by their own devices. So a conviction would be extremely difficult. The Controlled Drug and Substances Act DOES have some real teeth to it. The problem is not the police, it's the court system & all it's technicalities along with certain judges who make questionable calls.

Personally, I'm not a drug user and I certainly don't want our society to enable users to take drugs. But, I'm also a realist. The demand for drugs (like pussy) will always be there so the real debate needs to be how far as a society to do we go with the sale & distribution of drugs. Fentanyl may be that drug which starts up a serious conversation on this because it's killing middle and upper class kids. When Suburban Sally OD's politicians will suddenly see the "light" and engage in ideas how to fix the problem.

It's only a matter of time before someone smokes weed and OD's because it's laced with fentanyl.

 

[summerbreeze]

I have a hard time believing its in any drug pusher's interest to kill their customers (no repeat business)

Rather, a combination of greed, ignorance, indifference, lack of quality control, uneducated users, (with respect to specific dosage) is contributing to something dangerous

not unlike New York in the 70's and the heroin trade

 

[Warl0ck]

I have a hard time believing its in any drug pusher's interest to kill their customers (no repeat business)

Rather, a combination of greed, ignorance, indifference, lack of quality control, uneducated users, (with respect to specific dosage) is contributing to something dangerous

A drug addict usually knows exactly the amount of drugs they can take before they exceed their boundaries. Just as a functional alcoholic knows exactly how much he can drink and still wake up the next morning and function (somewhat). It's more the lack of quality control & that an extremely insignificant amount of Fentanyl can kill you.

 

[uncleg]

Its Chinese, really easy to get from China. The reason why its so heavily prevalent everywhere is because its easy to order off the internet with a click of a few buttons from the research chemical labs in China. No more smuggling kilos of heroin through the ports, now it comes right through Canada post into your mailbox.

 

[PerbMod]

Ok, that last post means it's time to close this up.