opioid crisis

B.C. has recorded an uptick in overdose deaths in March 2020. (THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jonathan Hayward)

B.C. sees 60% more overdose deaths in March compared to first two months of 2020

That equates to roughly seven British Columbians dying every two days

B.C. has recorded an uptick in overdose deaths in March 2020. (THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jonathan Hayward)
B.C. Mental Health and Addictions Minister Judy Darcy speaks to reporters at the B.C. legislature, Feb. 24, 2020. (Tom Fletcher/Black Press)

COLUMN: Helping those who use substances during the COVID-19 pandemic

B.C. Minister of Mental Health and Addictions Judy Darcy talks about both public health emergencies

  • Apr 18, 2020
B.C. Mental Health and Addictions Minister Judy Darcy speaks to reporters at the B.C. legislature, Feb. 24, 2020. (Tom Fletcher/Black Press)
BC Centre for Disease Control naloxone kit. (Darryl Dick/The Canadian Press)

As B.C. grapples with pandemic, top doctor marks grim anniversary of overdose crisis

Dr. Henry said the stigma associated with addiction, the challenges with getting help remained top of mind

BC Centre for Disease Control naloxone kit. (Darryl Dick/The Canadian Press)
Brad Pommen, president of SMRT1 Technologies, shows off a new vending machine at ANKORS in Nelson that carries items such as naloxone and syringes. Photo: Tyler Harper

VIDEO: Unique vending machine offering syringes, naloxone coming to B.C. cities

The machine is the invention of Nelson’s SMRT1 Technologies

Brad Pommen, president of SMRT1 Technologies, shows off a new vending machine at ANKORS in Nelson that carries items such as naloxone and syringes. Photo: Tyler Harper
Cowichan struggling to find new home for well-used overdose prevention site

Cowichan struggling to find new home for well-used overdose prevention site

510 ‘unique’ clients who, together, average about 2,600 visits a month

Cowichan struggling to find new home for well-used overdose prevention site
B.C. Mental Health and Addictions Minister Judy Darcy speaks to reporters at the B.C. legislature, Feb. 24, 2020. (Tom Fletcher/Black Press)

Prescription opioids getting B.C. addicts off ‘poisoned’ street drugs

Minister Judy Darcy says Abbotsford pilot project working

B.C. Mental Health and Addictions Minister Judy Darcy speaks to reporters at the B.C. legislature, Feb. 24, 2020. (Tom Fletcher/Black Press)
VIDEO: Illicit drug overdoses killed 981 in B.C. in 2019, down 38%

VIDEO: Illicit drug overdoses killed 981 in B.C. in 2019, down 38%

Chief coroner says figures were down about a third in the province’s fourth year of the opioid crisis

VIDEO: Illicit drug overdoses killed 981 in B.C. in 2019, down 38%
Canada’s Governor General Julie Payette met at a fire hall in downtown Vancouver on Feb. 22, 2020, with firefighters and police officers as well as officials including Mayor Kennedy Stewart. (The Canadian Press photo)

Governor general says multiple solutions needed for ‘complicated’ overdose issue

Julie Payette met at a fire hall with firefighters and police officers as well as politicians and health experts

Canada’s Governor General Julie Payette met at a fire hall in downtown Vancouver on Feb. 22, 2020, with firefighters and police officers as well as officials including Mayor Kennedy Stewart. (The Canadian Press photo)
Corey Ranger holds up his naloxone kit, something he always carries around. Having the product and training on hand has helped him save three lives since moving to Victoria in April. (File Contributed/ Corey Ranger)
Corey Ranger holds up his naloxone kit, something he always carries around. Having the product and training on hand has helped him save three lives since moving to Victoria in April. (File Contributed/ Corey Ranger)
High above the lovingly decorated spaces containing family members’ urns, a row of unadorned urns sits at the Royal Oak Burial Park. The remains belong to unclaimed victims of the opioid crisis, something which has tripled in recent years. (Nicole Crescenzi/News Staff)

Unclaimed remains piling up in Victoria

Rate of unclaimed cremations related to opioid crisis triples in Greater Victoria region

High above the lovingly decorated spaces containing family members’ urns, a row of unadorned urns sits at the Royal Oak Burial Park. The remains belong to unclaimed victims of the opioid crisis, something which has tripled in recent years. (Nicole Crescenzi/News Staff)
The Harbour Supervised Consumption Service has been in operation for just over one year (Nicole Crescenzi/News Staff)

More than 200 lives saved in first year at Victoria’s supervised consumption site

Vancouver Island’s largest site celebrates first anniversary with a report of zero deaths

The Harbour Supervised Consumption Service has been in operation for just over one year (Nicole Crescenzi/News Staff)
Victoria church displays memorial tapestry for those lost to opioid crisis

Victoria church displays memorial tapestry for those lost to opioid crisis

Christ Church Cathedral hosts talks on opioid crisis on June 26 and July 3

Victoria church displays memorial tapestry for those lost to opioid crisis
A Raman spectroscopy will help detect trace amounts of fillers in drugs, including fentanyl (Nicole Crescenzi/News Staff)

UVic partners with harm reduction groups to run a drug checking pilot project

The three-year pilot will allow people to test their drugs for fatal ingredients like fentanyl

A Raman spectroscopy will help detect trace amounts of fillers in drugs, including fentanyl (Nicole Crescenzi/News Staff)
Protestors marched from Centennial Square to the Ministry of Health building in Victoria on Tuesday for the National Day of Action on the Overdose Crisis. (Nina Grossman/News Staff)

Vancouver Island rallies for action on overdose crisis

Protestors call for new policies, safe supply and decriminalization

Protestors marched from Centennial Square to the Ministry of Health building in Victoria on Tuesday for the National Day of Action on the Overdose Crisis. (Nina Grossman/News Staff)
Naloxone kits only go so far. Organizers of the National Day of Action on the Overdose Crisis are demanding safer access to opioids. (File photo)

Vancouver Island advocates demand safe supply of opioids

The #SafeSupply NOW! cry is part of the National Day of Action on the Overdose Crisis on April 16

Naloxone kits only go so far. Organizers of the National Day of Action on the Overdose Crisis are demanding safer access to opioids. (File photo)
Skittles is a Shih Tzu/Puggle cross whose life was saved when a vet gave him Naloxone. (Victoria Humane Society)

Skittles spends Valentine’s Day with his new family

A Victoria puppy whose life was saved by a shot of naloxone has been adopted

Skittles is a Shih Tzu/Puggle cross whose life was saved when a vet gave him Naloxone. (Victoria Humane Society)
Skittles is beleived to be a Shih tzu/pug/ Jack Russell cross whose life was saved when a vet gave him Naloxone. (Facebook/ Victoria Humane Society)

Vet saves Victoria puppy with naloxone injection

The puppy is now up for adoption through the Victoria Humane Society

Skittles is beleived to be a Shih tzu/pug/ Jack Russell cross whose life was saved when a vet gave him Naloxone. (Facebook/ Victoria Humane Society)
The City of Victoria is pushing for more safe inhalation sites. (Flickr)

City of Victoria pushes for more safe inhalation sites

Council explores harm reduction tactics to combat opioid overdoses

The City of Victoria is pushing for more safe inhalation sites. (Flickr)
People addicted to opioids may soon have an alternative option to street drugs. (File photo)

Victoria councillors push for access to safe drugs

A motion coming to council would ask the province for easier access to opioid alternatives

People addicted to opioids may soon have an alternative option to street drugs. (File photo)
A screenshot from the Nal-Pal app shows what it would look like if a person in distress called for help. (File contributed/Derek Jacoby)

B.C. university to launch app to link drug users with Naloxone kits

Researchers have spent the last year developing the Nal-Pal app

A screenshot from the Nal-Pal app shows what it would look like if a person in distress called for help. (File contributed/Derek Jacoby)