While Punjab has reported a few hundred drug overdose deaths in the last decade, Canada is mourning with a far larger crisis, having recorded as many as 18,000 such deaths in the same period.British Columbia, which declared a public health emergency on April 14, 2016, after 474 illicit drug deaths in 2015, is marking the 10th anniversary with memorial events across the province.As per GlobalNews and other media outlets, a number of advocacy groups, including Moms Stop the Harm and Doctors for Safer Drug Policy, have organised rallies, moments of silence, art shows and webinars in Victoria, Prince George, Cranbrook and Powell River. These events combine grief with a strong push for stronger policies to prevent future deaths.The crisis has claimed more than 18,000 lives since the emergency was declared, with 1,833 overdose deaths reported in the province last year — a 21 per cent decline from the previous year, but still nearly four times the toll from a decade ago. Provincial health officials have promised to continue expanding harm-reduction services, treatment and recovery programmes, even as they acknowledge the scale of the tragedy.In contrast, Punjab has recorded only a few hundred drug overdose deaths in the same period. According to NCRB data, the state reported 78 such deaths in 2021, 144 in 2022, and 89 in 2023 — the highest in the country for the second year. However, the absolute numbers remain minuscule compared to those reprted in Canada.In recent years, overdose deaths in Punjab have hovered around 80-140 annually, according to NCRB figures. The issue has emerged as a big political flashpoint in the state. Opposition parties have repeatedly accused the government of failing to curb drug menace, demanding stricter enforcement and faster rehabilitation measures. The issue frequently features in Assembly debates and election campaigns.However, Canada is combating a far bigger problem. The overdose crisis there involves all communities, including Punjabis who have been involved in drug smuggling networks that feed the illicit supply of potent opioids such as fentanyl.