Study on B.C. decriminalization’s impact on drug crisis not complete, former coroner says

British Columbia’s former chief coroner says a new study linking safer supply and decriminalization to a rise in opioid overdose hospitalizations doesn’t provide the full picture on the effectiveness of the province’s drug policies.Lisa Lapointe, who retired from the post last year, says the study published in JAMA Health Forum on Friday used data up to the end of 2023 and did not capture the “significant” decrease in opioid-related deaths in B.C. in 2024 – the lowest rate since 2020.