Why Has British Columbia Consistently Had High Rates of Police Reported Drug Offences?


I think there are a few reasons why British Columbia has had high rates of reported drug crimes in recent years, including the mental health issues surrounding addiction, the way drugs are trafficked, and British Columbia being on the coast of Canada.

There have been improvements made for the treatment of addictions, but it's still being treated as a taboo subject, something no one wants to talk about. Addiction needs to be thought of as a mental health issue, instead of something that places blame on the user. Rates of  reported drug crimes have gone up involving heroin, opioids, methamphetamines, and different forms of cocaine, as well as fentanyl.  
Why is fentanyl such a problem? Because it is so potent, the amount of two grain of salt is enough to kill an adult person. Its highly addictive, it has a similar effect as heroin, and is often laced into other drugs. It is manufactured in China primarily, and often ends up in British Columbia because it is on the West coast. Especially in Vancouver, with the population being so high and the urban sprawl, it is also quite popular for street crimes involving drugs and drug overdoses.

An example of a drug related crime would be the one in Surrey, BC, where William Barnes has been charged against for trafficking over 100 kg of cocaine, meth, and heroin. He was transporting it between the Washington and Vancouver Island, he has also  had charges laid against him for firearm offences. I think that because he was transporting it by boat, BC would make the most sense to bring it to because it is right there.

https://nationalpost.com/pmn/news-pmn/canada-news-pmn/cross-border-drug-bust-results-in-trafficking-charges-against-b-c-man





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