On International Overdose Awareness Day, we need to talk about the people behind the numbers.
Vancouver Coastal Health reminds us that the toxic drug crisis affects people from every walk of life — families, friends, coworkers and neighbours.
But there is something else worth noticing.
In B.C., about 77% of those who died from toxic drugs in 2025 were men. Many were between 30 and 59 years old, and among those whose employment history was known, trades, transport and equipment operators were one of the largest employment groups.
These aren't abstract numbers.
These are people who worked. People who built things. People who drove trucks, operated equipment, worked with their hands, came home to their families and were part of our communities.
And now Canada and B.C. are talking about the need for tens of thousands more skilled trades workers.
So when we talk about recruiting 100,000 tradespeople, shouldn't we also be asking what happened to the people we already lost?
We can't simply talk about a shortage of workers without talking about the human beings behind that shortage.
Remember them. Reduce the stigma. Support people before they become another statistic.
Because every number was somebody's son, daughter, father, mother, brother, sister, friend or coworker.
#InternationalOverdoseAwarenessDay #ToxicDrugCrisis #SkilledTrades #EndTheStigma #EveryLifeMatters
