Opinion: Despite B.C.’s many firsts, Alberta has a far lower death rate after prioritizing treatment In 2022 — the seventh year of a public health emergency — the number of British Columbians who died due to the toxic supply of street drugs was the second highest on record, at least 2,272. Among the dead were at least 65 children. 2021 was worse, with a record 2,306 deaths. Over the years,