opioid crisis

A B.C. Centre for Disease Control naloxone kit. B.C. Emergency Health Services released a list detailing the annual number of overdose/poisoning calls in different communities throughout the province, for a total of 42,172 calls in 2023. (Darryl Dick/The Canadian Press)

Overdose calls spiked 25% in B.C. in 2023 amid highest recorded deaths in history

B.C. paramedics responded to 42,172 overdose or poisoning calls last year

 

This year was the most deadly year in B.C.’s ongoing opioid crisis. In August, the Campbell River Community Action Team and other groups host an annual International Overdose Awareness Day (IOAD) event where people could learn to save a life by administering Naloxone. Photo by Marc Kitteringham / Campbell River Mirror

Campbell River sees province’s fifth highest rate of unregulated drug deaths

47 people lost their lives due to drug use in 2023

 

Dean Anderson holds up a sign before a march on the first National Day of Action to draw attention to the opioid overdose epidemic, in the Downtown Eastside of Vancouver, on February 21, 2017. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck

2023 was the worst year for fatal toxic drug poisonings in B.C. history

The coroners service warned in October that 2023 would be an unprecedented year for deaths

 

A naloxone kit. (Black Press Media file photo)

Island Health issues overdose advisory for Campbell River

Overdoses increasing in region

A naloxone kit. (Black Press Media file photo)
Public Safety Minister Mike Farnworth has condemned a mass mailing of drugs by advocate Dana Larsen to all 87 MLAs in B.C. (THE CANADIAN PRESS/Chad Hipolito)

MLAs condemn B.C. advocate’s mass mail out of drugs to their offices

Cannabis advocate Dana Larsen sent a package containing drugs to all 87 MLAs

Public Safety Minister Mike Farnworth has condemned a mass mailing of drugs by advocate Dana Larsen to all 87 MLAs in B.C. (THE CANADIAN PRESS/Chad Hipolito)
Corey Ranger, president of the Harm Reduction Nurses Association, welcomes an injunction against the Restricting Public Consumption of Illegal Substances Act. He says it threatens the safety of drug users by pushing them into covert places, where they are more likely to die. But the injunction has also received criticism. (Contributed/ Corey Ranger)

Injunction against B.C.’s new public drug use law sparks mixed reaction

Public Safety Minister Farnworth says injunction temporarily prevents regulation of hard drug use

Corey Ranger, president of the Harm Reduction Nurses Association, welcomes an injunction against the Restricting Public Consumption of Illegal Substances Act. He says it threatens the safety of drug users by pushing them into covert places, where they are more likely to die. But the injunction has also received criticism. (Contributed/ Corey Ranger)
Protesters stop at the intersection of Powell and Main streets in Vancouver to listen to speeches on April 14, 2023 during an event marking the seventh anniversary of the toxic drug deaths in B.C. (Lauren Collins/Black Press Media)

Spike in toxic drug deaths prompts safety warning from BC Coroners Service

Preliminary data suggests at least 200 people died in November

Protesters stop at the intersection of Powell and Main streets in Vancouver to listen to speeches on April 14, 2023 during an event marking the seventh anniversary of the toxic drug deaths in B.C. (Lauren Collins/Black Press Media)
Naloxone is used to treat opioid overdoses. (Black Press Media file photo)

Island Health issues overdose warning advisory for Greater Victoria

Call 1-888-885-8824 to connect with mental health and substance use resources

Naloxone is used to treat opioid overdoses. (Black Press Media file photo)
A lawyer for a pharmaceutical firm says holding a single trial in British Columbia to determine each province’s damages related to opioid health care costs would be a “monster of complexity.” Prescription pills containing oxycodone and acetaminophen are shown in this June 20, 2012 photo.THE CANADIAN PRESS/Graeme Roy

Pharma lawyer suggests B.C. opioid class action suit too big to certify

Johnson and Johnson rep argues certification would ‘burden’ B.C.’s justice system

A lawyer for a pharmaceutical firm says holding a single trial in British Columbia to determine each province’s damages related to opioid health care costs would be a “monster of complexity.” Prescription pills containing oxycodone and acetaminophen are shown in this June 20, 2012 photo.THE CANADIAN PRESS/Graeme Roy
North Cowichan Mayor Rob Douglas will write a latter to the province asking that the overdose prevention site on York Road be moved to another location. (Citizen file photo)

North Cowichan wants new location for overdose prevention site

Municipality cites some ‘serious concerns’ with York Road location

North Cowichan Mayor Rob Douglas will write a latter to the province asking that the overdose prevention site on York Road be moved to another location. (Citizen file photo)
First Nations Health Authority acting chief medical officer Dr. Nel Wieman was consulted on the BC Coroner Service’s recent death review panel report on the toxic drug crisis that was released Nov. 1, 2023. Wieman speaks about the illicit drug toxicity deaths in the province and about the effect on First Nation’s communities during a press conference at B.C. Legislature in Victoria, B.C., on Monday, February 24, 2020. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Chad Hipolito

First Nations grappling with toxic drug crisis need own solutions: B.C. doctor

First Nations Health Authority rep says safer supply engagement lacking in First Nations communities

First Nations Health Authority acting chief medical officer Dr. Nel Wieman was consulted on the BC Coroner Service’s recent death review panel report on the toxic drug crisis that was released Nov. 1, 2023. Wieman speaks about the illicit drug toxicity deaths in the province and about the effect on First Nation’s communities during a press conference at B.C. Legislature in Victoria, B.C., on Monday, February 24, 2020. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Chad Hipolito
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
Public Safety Minister and Solicitor General Mike Farnworth Thursday tabled legislation that excludes sport fields, beaches, parks, outdoor recreation spaces, public entrances and bus stops from the current decriminalization trial unfolding in the province. (THE CANADIAN PRESS/Chad Hipolito)

B.C. expands off-limit areas of drug decrim pilot to include bus stops, parks

Public Safety Minister and Solicitor General Mike Farnworth tabled legislation Thursday

Public Safety Minister and Solicitor General Mike Farnworth Thursday tabled legislation that excludes sport fields, beaches, parks, outdoor recreation spaces, public entrances and bus stops from the current decriminalization trial unfolding in the province. (THE CANADIAN PRESS/Chad Hipolito)
Moms Stop the Harm advocates and supporters gather on the sixth anniversary of the toxic drug supply public health emergency in Victoria on April 14, 2022. Numbers released by the BC Coroners Service show 174 people died from the toxic supply in August 2023. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Chad Hipolito

174 people died from toxic drug supply in August, B.C. coroner finds

Unregulated drug toxicity is leading cause of death for British Columbians aged 10 to 59

Moms Stop the Harm advocates and supporters gather on the sixth anniversary of the toxic drug supply public health emergency in Victoria on April 14, 2022. Numbers released by the BC Coroners Service show 174 people died from the toxic supply in August 2023. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Chad Hipolito
Starting Monday (Sept. 18), playgrounds, spray pools, wading pools and skate parks will join schools as zones excluded from the temporary decriminalization of certain illicit drugs as part of a federal-approved trial in British Columbia. (Monica Lamb-Yorski/Black Press Media)

B.C. excludes playgrounds, rec areas from drug decriminalization trial

Changes come into effect Sept. 18 after Health Canada approved provincial request

Starting Monday (Sept. 18), playgrounds, spray pools, wading pools and skate parks will join schools as zones excluded from the temporary decriminalization of certain illicit drugs as part of a federal-approved trial in British Columbia. (Monica Lamb-Yorski/Black Press Media)
B.C. Minister of Mental Health and Addictions Jennifer Whiteside steps away from the podium after speaking during a news conference in Vancouver, on Monday, January 30, 2023. Whiteside was at the Metro Vancouver’s mayors council on Wednesday, Sept. 6, 2023 to discuss the issues around public drug use. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck

Decriminalization meant to save lives in toxic drug crisis: Whiteside

Mental Health and Addictions Minister speaks to Metro Vancouver mayors committe on public drug use

B.C. Minister of Mental Health and Addictions Jennifer Whiteside steps away from the podium after speaking during a news conference in Vancouver, on Monday, January 30, 2023. Whiteside was at the Metro Vancouver’s mayors council on Wednesday, Sept. 6, 2023 to discuss the issues around public drug use. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck
People march along Powell Street in Vancouver on April 14, 2023 during an event to mark the seventh anniversary of the toxic drug crisis in B.C. The province said Aug. 23, 2023 that at least 198 people died in July due to toxic drug poisonings and there have been 1,455 deaths in the first seven months of the year. (Photo: Lauren Collins)

198 people died in B.C. in July due to toxic drug poisonings

The latest data comes just 2 days before International Overdose Awareness Day

People march along Powell Street in Vancouver on April 14, 2023 during an event to mark the seventh anniversary of the toxic drug crisis in B.C. The province said Aug. 23, 2023 that at least 198 people died in July due to toxic drug poisonings and there have been 1,455 deaths in the first seven months of the year. (Photo: Lauren Collins)
Courtenay-Alberni MP Gord Johns, left, tours with the mobile methadone van in Portugal. The van is part of the mobile low threshold methadone program run by Ares do Pinhal, a non-governmental organization for social inclusion, according to Johns. (PHOTO COURTESY GORD JOHNS)

Island MP visits Portugal in search of solutions to toxic substance crisis

Gord Johns foots the bill for trip, saying he ‘can’t wait’ for gov’t intervention

Courtenay-Alberni MP Gord Johns, left, tours with the mobile methadone van in Portugal. The van is part of the mobile low threshold methadone program run by Ares do Pinhal, a non-governmental organization for social inclusion, according to Johns. (PHOTO COURTESY GORD JOHNS)
Candice Chaffey holds a syringe from a naloxone kit as she poses for a photo in Toronto, on Thursday, June 29, 2023. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Arlyn McAdorey

A look at Canadians carrying naloxone to save strangers

More people are carrying naloxone kits with them on the streets as drug poisoning-related fatalities break records

Candice Chaffey holds a syringe from a naloxone kit as she poses for a photo in Toronto, on Thursday, June 29, 2023. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Arlyn McAdorey
Figures from BC Coroners Service show 176 people lost their lives in connecting to unregulated drugs in May 2023. The five-month-total of 1,018 through 2023 sets a new grim record. (Black Press Media file photo)

Premier David Eby says B.C. remains in the grips of an unregulated drug crisis

Province sets new grim record as more than 1,000 people have died through first months of 2023

Figures from BC Coroners Service show 176 people lost their lives in connecting to unregulated drugs in May 2023. The five-month-total of 1,018 through 2023 sets a new grim record. (Black Press Media file photo)