Drugs

Mark Holland, Canada’s Minister of Health makes a health care announcement in Calgary, Alta., Thursday, Dec. 21, 2023. Holland has been calling around to United States officials to let them know that the Canadian government will be guarding its medical drug supply after the U.S. moved to allow states to mass import medicine from Canada. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Todd Korol

Canada won’t be your drug store, health minister tells U.S. officials

Mark Holland chides U.S. officials over cost-saving scheme to buy Canadian drugs

 

The HMCS Alberni Museum and Memorial (HAMM) is located at 625 Cliffe Ave. in Courtenay. Photo supplied. On Dec. 29, B.C.’s Supreme Court blocked new provincial laws against public consumption of illegal substances. Imposing a temporary injunction until March 31, Chief Justice Christopher Hinkson halted the procedures, stating that “irreparable harm will be caused” if these laws come into effect. (THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jonathan Hayward) The HMCS Alberni Museum and Memorial (HAMM) is located at 625 Cliffe Ave. in Courtenay. Photo supplied.

Reactions to public drug injunction mixed as people avoid downtown Courtenay

Museum sees 46 per cent drop in visitors in the past year as fingers pointed at public consumption

 

Food and Drug Administration building is shown Thursday, Dec. 10, 2020 in Silver Spring, Md. A major shift in United States pharmaceutical policy is creating fears about future drug shortages in Canada, now that manufacturers are allowed to export drugs south of the border. THE CANADIAN PRESS/AP-Manuel Balce Ceneta

U.S. move to allow Canadian drug import sparks shortage fears up here

‘To look to Canada as their pharmacy is just not practical, we can’t do it’

 

The Clean Air Bylaw came into effect 25 years ago, but Stew Young said that even though people have became generally respectful of where they smoke, but the open drug use around Langford has gotten out of control. (File photo)

Open drug use replacing smoking – pushing up crime – says ex-Langford mayor

Stew Young speaking out on community ills

The Clean Air Bylaw came into effect 25 years ago, but Stew Young said that even though people have became generally respectful of where they smoke, but the open drug use around Langford has gotten out of control. (File photo)
The British Columbia Supreme Court has blocked new provincial laws against public consumption of illegal substances. The Law Courts building, which is home to B.C. Supreme Court and the Court of Appeal, is seen in Vancouver, on Thursday, November 23, 2023. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck

B.C. Supreme Court blocks new law against public drug use

The Restricting Public Consumption of Illegal Substances Act was passed by legislature in November

The British Columbia Supreme Court has blocked new provincial laws against public consumption of illegal substances. The Law Courts building, which is home to B.C. Supreme Court and the Court of Appeal, is seen in Vancouver, on Thursday, November 23, 2023. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck
FILE - The U.S. Supreme Court is seen before sunrise on Capitol Hill in Washington, March. 21, 2022. On Dec. 4, 2023, the Supreme Court will hear arguments over a nationwide settlement with OxyContin maker Purdue Pharma that would shield members of the Sackler family who own the company from civil lawsuits over the toll of opioids.(AP Photo/Jose Luis Magana, File)

Drug giant’s settlement hearing determing accountability in opioid crisis

OxyContin maker’s bankruptcy deal goes before the Supreme Court, with billions of dollars at stake

  • Dec 4, 2023
FILE - The U.S. Supreme Court is seen before sunrise on Capitol Hill in Washington, March. 21, 2022. On Dec. 4, 2023, the Supreme Court will hear arguments over a nationwide settlement with OxyContin maker Purdue Pharma that would shield members of the Sackler family who own the company from civil lawsuits over the toll of opioids.(AP Photo/Jose Luis Magana, File)
The BC Coroners Service says more than 2,000 people have died in the first 10 months of 2023 due to the toxic drug supply. People carry a makeshift coffin , representing the toxic drug deaths, along Powell Street in Vancouver on April 14, 2023 during an event marking the seventh anniversary of the toxic drug supply in B.C. (Photo: Lauren Collins)

2,000 British Columbians have died from toxic drugs so far in 2023

October is also the 37th consecutive month with at least 150 deaths

The BC Coroners Service says more than 2,000 people have died in the first 10 months of 2023 due to the toxic drug supply. People carry a makeshift coffin , representing the toxic drug deaths, along Powell Street in Vancouver on April 14, 2023 during an event marking the seventh anniversary of the toxic drug supply in B.C. (Photo: Lauren Collins)
Moms Stop the Harm advocates and supporters gather in Victoria on April 14, 2022 to mark the sixth anniversary of the toxic drug death public health emergency. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Chad Hipolito

‘Unconstitutional’: Harm reduction nurses suing B.C. over public drug use ban

Nurses association says new restrictions are putting drug user’s lives at further risk

Moms Stop the Harm advocates and supporters gather in Victoria on April 14, 2022 to mark the sixth anniversary of the toxic drug death public health emergency. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Chad Hipolito
Psilocybin mushrooms sit on a drying rack in Springfield, Ore., Monday, Aug. 14, 2023. One of three magic mushroom stores that were raided by Vancouver police this week has already reopened, and the owner says his other two are restocking and will be open again on Friday. THE CANADIAN PRESS/AP, Craig Mitchelldyer

Raided B.C. magic mushroom stores quickly reopening for business

Vancouver Police Department report seizing ‘a variety of controlled substances’

Psilocybin mushrooms sit on a drying rack in Springfield, Ore., Monday, Aug. 14, 2023. One of three magic mushroom stores that were raided by Vancouver police this week has already reopened, and the owner says his other two are restocking and will be open again on Friday. THE CANADIAN PRESS/AP, Craig Mitchelldyer
Brothers Keepers gang member Amandeep Singh Kang pleaded guilty to two charges in Vancouver Supreme Court on Oct. 30, 2023. (Photo courtesy of CFSEU-BC)

Brothers Keepers gang member pleads guilty to B.C. drug activity

Amandeep Singh Kang admits to participating in gang, conspiring to traffic drugs

Brothers Keepers gang member Amandeep Singh Kang pleaded guilty to two charges in Vancouver Supreme Court on Oct. 30, 2023. (Photo courtesy of CFSEU-BC)
Andrew Leavens, front left, and Carl Gladue, right, carry an empty coffin during a march organized by the Vancouver Area Network of Drug Users (VANDU) to mark International Overdose Awareness Day, in Vancouver, on Thursday, August 31, 2023. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck

UPDATED: B.C. rejects experts call for non-prescription access to safer drug supply

Coroner’s death review panel says expanded safer supply fastest way to save lives, but B.C. says ‘no’

Andrew Leavens, front left, and Carl Gladue, right, carry an empty coffin during a march organized by the Vancouver Area Network of Drug Users (VANDU) to mark International Overdose Awareness Day, in Vancouver, on Thursday, August 31, 2023. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck
The BC Coroner Service is reporting 175 unregulated drug deaths in September 2023. A protester holds a sign that reads, “Help test our dope before we go up in smoke.” People marched along Powell Street toward Main Street in Vancouver on April 14, 2023 during an event marking the seventh anniversary of the toxic drug deaths in B.C. (Photo: Lauren Collins)

Nearly 6 people died per day from unregulated drugs in September: B.C. coroner

Latest data shows a 10% decrease from September 2022

The BC Coroner Service is reporting 175 unregulated drug deaths in September 2023. A protester holds a sign that reads, “Help test our dope before we go up in smoke.” People marched along Powell Street toward Main Street in Vancouver on April 14, 2023 during an event marking the seventh anniversary of the toxic drug deaths in B.C. (Photo: Lauren Collins)
Drugs and Cash seized from recent drug trafficking Investigation. RCMP photo

Arrested for trafficking, man goes back out on street, gets arrested again

Campbell River RCMP seize drugs and cash from suspect twice in eight days

Drugs and Cash seized from recent drug trafficking Investigation. RCMP photo
The West Shore RCMP seized drugs, weapons and cash on Oct. 15 after a driver drifted across lanes, according to RCMP. (Photo supplied/West Shore RCMP)

West Shore RCMP seize fentanyl disguised as oxycontin in mega-investigation

More than $8,000 in cash was seized

The West Shore RCMP seized drugs, weapons and cash on Oct. 15 after a driver drifted across lanes, according to RCMP. (Photo supplied/West Shore RCMP)
FILE - A sign for Eli Lilly & Co. stands outside their corporate headquarters in Indianapolis on April 26, 2017. A new study finds that the medicine in the diabetes drug Mounjaro helped people with obesity or who are overweight lose at least a quarter of their body weight. (AP Photo/Darron Cummings, File)

Drug used in diabetes treatment Mounjaro helped dieters shed 60 pounds: study

Drug had to be combined with intensive diet and exercise

FILE - A sign for Eli Lilly & Co. stands outside their corporate headquarters in Indianapolis on April 26, 2017. A new study finds that the medicine in the diabetes drug Mounjaro helped people with obesity or who are overweight lose at least a quarter of their body weight. (AP Photo/Darron Cummings, File)
Vancouver Area Network of Drug Users (VANDU) board member Martin Steward speaks in MacLean Park in Vancouver on Oct. 4. The group says new provincial restrictions on public drug consumption will have deadly effects on the community. (Jane Skrypnek/Black Press Media)

B.C. drug users group says new consumption rules stigmatizing them further

Province introduced restrictions last month, promises further public drug use legislation soon

Vancouver Area Network of Drug Users (VANDU) board member Martin Steward speaks in MacLean Park in Vancouver on Oct. 4. The group says new provincial restrictions on public drug consumption will have deadly effects on the community. (Jane Skrypnek/Black Press Media)
Border services officers discovered nearly 200kg of opium inside two shipping containers entering B.C. in August. (Photo courtesy of Canada Border Services Agency)

Opium found stuffed in furniture, machinery entering B.C.

CBSA discovered nearly 200 kg of the drug inside shipping containers in August

Border services officers discovered nearly 200kg of opium inside two shipping containers entering B.C. in August. (Photo courtesy of Canada Border Services Agency)
Chief Coroner Lisa Lapointe provides an update on illicit drug toxicity deaths in the province during a press conference at B.C. Legislature in Victoria, B.C., on Monday, February 24, 2020. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Chad Hipolito

Overdoses from smoking toxic drugs outpace B.C. prevention sites

Chief coroner says more supervised places required

Chief Coroner Lisa Lapointe provides an update on illicit drug toxicity deaths in the province during a press conference at B.C. Legislature in Victoria, B.C., on Monday, February 24, 2020. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Chad Hipolito
In this photo posted to social media on May 2, needles and other garbage can be seen left on a picnic table near the playground at the Parksville Community Park. - Facebook photo

Island mayor happy drug use in parks being phased out by province

Sweeping changes prohibit the use of drugs near parks in B.C., including Courtenay

In this photo posted to social media on May 2, needles and other garbage can be seen left on a picnic table near the playground at the Parksville Community Park. - Facebook photo
Chadd Cawson greets young Anna Park at the start of the event in Crofton. (Photo by Don Bodger)

Special performances, walk mark International Overdose Awareness Day in Crofton

Organizer pleased with the response for a first-time event

Chadd Cawson greets young Anna Park at the start of the event in Crofton. (Photo by Don Bodger)