Horgan under fire for saying taking drugs 'initially a choice' after BC breaks overdose deaths record

Premier John Horgan has been attacked for saying taking drugs is “initially a choice.”

The NDP leader made the remarks yesterday when he was asked about the differences between the government’s responses to the opioid and COVID-19 crises.

He said they are “two separate things,” adding: “We have an insidious virus that affects anyone, at any time, and we have an opioid crisis that involves people using drugs – those are choices, initially, and then they become dependencies.

“Once people make those choices they no longer are in a position to stop making those choices without intervention – without medical intervention.”

He said the fact that the number of deaths from overdoses in BC in June (175) was similar to the total number of deaths from COVID-19 in the province (189) is a “coincidence.”

His comments immediately drew heat on social media.

But Provincial Health Officer Dr. Bonnie Henry and Minister of Health Adrian Dix both defended Premier Horgan in their own press conference later on Thursday.

Dr. Henry said “if that’s the way [his comments] came out, that was probably not his intent.”

Dix, meanwhile, said Premier Horgan is an “advocate” who recently came out in support for the legalization of drugs.

The BC Liberals, however, have taken a different view.

“Premier Horgan’s remark that addiction starts as a choice is one of the more upsetting comments I’ve heard from this government since beginning my role as Critic for Mental Health and Addictions,” Jane Thornthwaite, MLA for North Vancouver-Seymour, said.

BC broke another tragic record in June for the most drug-related deaths in a single month.

The previous record was set in May.