opioid crisis

A technician with the Substance Drug Checking project uses an infrared spectrometer to test drug samples. Researchers hope the technology could help the shift to automated services. (Courtesy of Jay Wallace)

UVic researchers hope to boost drug-checking access through automation

Automated services would alleviate need for technicians, increase access in small communities

A technician with the Substance Drug Checking project uses an infrared spectrometer to test drug samples. Researchers hope the technology could help the shift to automated services. (Courtesy of Jay Wallace)
The provincial government is now covering opioid agonist treatment designed to help people counter their dependence on heroin, oxycodone and fentanyl among other opioids available through medical service plans.(Photo courtesy of Island Health)

B.C. to cover costs for opioid-use disorder medications becoming 1st province to do so

Change came into effect June 6 using MSP to cover opioid agonist treatment

The provincial government is now covering opioid agonist treatment designed to help people counter their dependence on heroin, oxycodone and fentanyl among other opioids available through medical service plans.(Photo courtesy of Island Health)
Provincial health officer Dr. Bonnie Henry looks on as chief coroner Lisa Lapointe discusses details about the province’s application for decriminalization in the next step to reduce toxic drug deaths during a news conference in the press gallery at the legislature in Victoria, Monday, Nov. 1, 2021. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Chad Hipolito

B.C. officials push back against safe supply critics and their ‘polarizing rhetoric’

Officials seek to rebut claims that drugs prescribed through the B.C.’s safe supply program are being re-sold to young people

Provincial health officer Dr. Bonnie Henry looks on as chief coroner Lisa Lapointe discusses details about the province’s application for decriminalization in the next step to reduce toxic drug deaths during a news conference in the press gallery at the legislature in Victoria, Monday, Nov. 1, 2021. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Chad Hipolito
Leslie McBain, co-founder of Moms Stop the Harm, takes part in a news conference on Parliament Hill in Ottawa on Tuesday, May 30, 2023. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Sean Kilpatrick

Drug policy advocate group Moms Stop the Harm wants meeting with Poilievre

MPs defeated Poilievre’s motion that aimed to condemn the Liberal government’s approach to fighting drug addiction

Leslie McBain, co-founder of Moms Stop the Harm, takes part in a news conference on Parliament Hill in Ottawa on Tuesday, May 30, 2023. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Sean Kilpatrick
An automatic system drops pharmaceutical orders on a conveyor belt to be placed into boxes at Morris and Dickson Co., in Shreveport, Wednesday, July 13, 2016. The U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration has allowed one of the nation’s largest wholesale drug distributors to keep shipping opioid painkillers for nearly four years after a judge recommended in 2018 it lose its license for its “cavalier disregard” of thousands of suspicious orders fueling the opioid crisis. (Henrietta Wildsmith/The Shreveport Times via AP)

DEA’s failure to punish distributor blamed in opioid crisis raises revolving door questions

Distributor was allowed to keep shipping highly addictive painkillers for nearly 4 years

An automatic system drops pharmaceutical orders on a conveyor belt to be placed into boxes at Morris and Dickson Co., in Shreveport, Wednesday, July 13, 2016. The U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration has allowed one of the nation’s largest wholesale drug distributors to keep shipping opioid painkillers for nearly four years after a judge recommended in 2018 it lose its license for its “cavalier disregard” of thousands of suspicious orders fueling the opioid crisis. (Henrietta Wildsmith/The Shreveport Times via AP)
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 photo)

814 people died from toxic drugs in the first 4 months of 2023: BC Coroners Service

Public Safety Ministry says fentanyl has been found in 79% of deaths this year

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 photo)
Elizabeth and Kevin Sawatzky on their wedding day. They were happy and looking forward to a long life together, but a drug overdose took all of that away. (submitted photo)

Chilliwack drug overdose victim leaves grieving family behind

Elizabeth Sawatzky dreamed of a long life with husband Kevin until toxic drugs took him away

Elizabeth and Kevin Sawatzky on their wedding day. They were happy and looking forward to a long life together, but a drug overdose took all of that away. (submitted photo)
A new 16-bed mental health evaluation and treatment facility has three double- and 10 single-bed rooms. Heidi Sanders, the Mirror

‘Quite remarkable’: B.C. commits close to $1 billion for mental health, addictions

Investment standout piece from $6.4-billion health-care spending promise

A new 16-bed mental health evaluation and treatment facility has three double- and 10 single-bed rooms. Heidi Sanders, the Mirror
Naxolone, used to reverse opioid overdoses, is part of Island Health’s addiction services in harm reduction. (File photo)

More detox facilities needed to battle toxic drug crisis — Campbell River MD

‘We don’t have adequate ways to pull people out of this crisis’ — Dr. Erika Kellerhals

Naxolone, used to reverse opioid overdoses, is part of Island Health’s addiction services in harm reduction. (File photo)
The Nanaimo Area Network of Drug Users has closed its site on 264 Nicol St. in Nanaimo, the group said in a statement on Friday, Feb. 3. (News Bulletin file photo)

Nanaimo Area Network of Drug Users closes Nicol Street overdose prevention site

Property occupied by NANDU was deemed a nuisance last month by the City of Nanaimo

The Nanaimo Area Network of Drug Users has closed its site on 264 Nicol St. in Nanaimo, the group said in a statement on Friday, Feb. 3. (News Bulletin file photo)
Dr. Charmaine Enns, the North Island medical health officer, recently sent a letter to Campbel River city council urging them to hold off on a illegal drug consumption bylaw. (Black Press file photo)

Health officer pushes back as Campbell River tries to step around decriminalization

City urged to wait six months, ‘seek sound advice’ before forging ahead with drug use ban bylaw

Dr. Charmaine Enns, the North Island medical health officer, recently sent a letter to Campbel River city council urging them to hold off on a illegal drug consumption bylaw. (Black Press file photo)
B.C. Liberal Party Leader Kevin Falcon promises to put about $1.5 billion dollars toward a no-cost recovery-oriented approach toward helping individuals needing treatment and recovery from drug use. (THE CANADIAN PRESS/Chad Hipolito)

Falcon promises $1.5 billion ‘no-cost recovery-oriented’ approach toward addiction

B.C. Liberal leader said new plan would include recovery centres established across the province

B.C. Liberal Party Leader Kevin Falcon promises to put about $1.5 billion dollars toward a no-cost recovery-oriented approach toward helping individuals needing treatment and recovery from drug use. (THE CANADIAN PRESS/Chad Hipolito)
Brian O’Donnell, of the B.C. Association of People on Opioid Maintenance, poses for a photograph in the Downtown Eastside of Vancouver, on Friday, December 30, 2022. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck

B.C. poised for drug decriminalization experiment, but will it help stem deadly tide?

People living in tents along about eight blocks of Vancouver’s Downtown Eastside…

Brian O’Donnell, of the B.C. Association of People on Opioid Maintenance, poses for a photograph in the Downtown Eastside of Vancouver, on Friday, December 30, 2022. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck
Dr. Shannon Waters, Cowichan Valley’s medical health officer, said deaths due to poisoned illicit drugs increased in the Cowichan Valley during the COVID-19 pandemic. (Citizen file photo)

22 drug-related deaths in Cowichan region in first eight months of 2022

Medical health officer said local drug deaths increased during pandemic

Dr. Shannon Waters, Cowichan Valley’s medical health officer, said deaths due to poisoned illicit drugs increased in the Cowichan Valley during the COVID-19 pandemic. (Citizen file photo)
Conservative Party of Canada Leader Pierre Poilievre in Terrace this November. Poilievre also visited Kitimat and Prince Rupert during his northwest B.C. tour. (Michael Bramadat-Willcock/Terrace Standard)

Pierre Poilievre pumps natural gas during northwest B.C. tour

Fiery Conservative leader talks LNG, ‘safe supply’ and reconciliation

Conservative Party of Canada Leader Pierre Poilievre in Terrace this November. Poilievre also visited Kitimat and Prince Rupert during his northwest B.C. tour. (Michael Bramadat-Willcock/Terrace Standard)
A person holds a syringe and an orange while learning how to administer Naloxone to an overdose victim, during an International Overdose Awareness Day gathering in Surrey, B.C., on Wednesday, Aug. 31, 2022. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck

Dozens of recommendations in overdose and drug toxicity report by B.C. MLAs

Report calls for fewer barriers to safe supply, expanded take-home naloxone program

A person holds a syringe and an orange while learning how to administer Naloxone to an overdose victim, during an International Overdose Awareness Day gathering in Surrey, B.C., on Wednesday, Aug. 31, 2022. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck
Jessica Michalofsky is protesting for safe supply following the death of her son on Aug. 30. (Black Press Media file photo)

VIDEO: B.C. mom protesting in Victoria for safe supply to meet with addictions minister

After running 14 marathons around ministry of health building, Jessica Michalofsky sees progress

Jessica Michalofsky is protesting for safe supply following the death of her son on Aug. 30. (Black Press Media file photo)
Moms Stop the Harm advocates and supporters march from Centennial Square to the Ministry of Health building on the sixth anniversary to mark the public health emergency of the declaration due to the significant increase in opioid-related overdose across the province during the Cut The Red Tape theme in Victoria on Thursday, April 14, 2022. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Chad Hipolito

B.C. changes opioid lawsuit to help recover more money from drug makers

Changes will allow the federal government to join the legal action

Moms Stop the Harm advocates and supporters march from Centennial Square to the Ministry of Health building on the sixth anniversary to mark the public health emergency of the declaration due to the significant increase in opioid-related overdose across the province during the Cut The Red Tape theme in Victoria on Thursday, April 14, 2022. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Chad Hipolito
Paramedics respond to a call as Vancouver city councillor Jean Swanson attends a march on International Overdose Awareness Day, in Vancouver, on August 31, 2021. In August 2022, the BC Coroner Service says 169 British Columbians died to the toxic drug supply. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck

169 British Columbians killed from toxic drug supply in August: Coroner

Number a small decrease from 192 deaths in July

Paramedics respond to a call as Vancouver city councillor Jean Swanson attends a march on International Overdose Awareness Day, in Vancouver, on August 31, 2021. In August 2022, the BC Coroner Service says 169 British Columbians died to the toxic drug supply. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck
A man pauses at a coffin after carrying it during a memorial march to remember victims of overdose deaths in Vancouver on Saturday, August 15, 2020. The B.C. Coroners Service reported 192 more deaths in the month of July 2022. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck

190 adults, 2 children died from B.C.’s toxic drug supply in July: Coroner

Number equates to 6.2 deaths per day

A man pauses at a coffin after carrying it during a memorial march to remember victims of overdose deaths in Vancouver on Saturday, August 15, 2020. The B.C. Coroners Service reported 192 more deaths in the month of July 2022. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck