By David P. Ball
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‘Fighting for Space’ author Travis Lupick discusses political failings, and the power of grassroots organizing by people who use drugs

As new data reveal British Columbia saw the worst year for overdose deaths in its history, a seasoned reporter and author on drug policies says the crisis has hardly made a dent on the provincial election campaign trail — despite being far deadlier in the province than the biggest campaign issue, COVID-19.

Travis Lupick, author of the book “Fighting for Space: How a Group of Drug Users Transformed One City’s Struggle with Addiction,” says the terrible toll of the pandemic’s response on drug users has barely registered with party leaders, so far.

“In the last couple elections, federal and provincial, which were held with the overdose crisis in full swing, we saw this issue receive no attention at all,” Lupick said. “I don’t have a lot of hope for this issue receiving a lot of attention this election cycle.

“I expect COVID to receive a lot of attention, but COVID is not killing people in the numbers the overdose crisis is.”

All parties have made a few statements supporting addiction treatment and overdose prevention programs, yet Lupick said there has been nothing substantial or urgent enough to suggest the crisis is killing more than five of our citizens every day on average.