herbie herbie:
"We have a couple of victims who by all indications were drug users ... there's no indication of any foul play,"
This and the other case you mentioned weren't prescription drugs. But you're correct that sometimes prescription drug use can lead to addiction, then they grab street stuff when the doctor won't prescribe more.
The doctors here are pretty stern about using and issuing addictive drugs. I know a couple people who have to and wait until they're in absolute agony just so they won't risk getting hooked. One even hides them, he has some sketchy friends who bug him all the time for pills and would snatch them from the medicine cabinet first time they use the bathroom.
The N Van couple became addicted to prescription opioids. They were taking a mess of drugs to try to kick, including methadone. The idiots had a free weekend and decided to party with street drugs. This wasn't desperate junkies who just couldn't help themselves. The conversation in Vancouver is starting to turn to "why do so much for the junkies when I can't get proper treatment for my health problems." Empathy fatigue.