opioids

Prescription pills containing oxycodone and acetaminophen are shown in this June 20, 2012 photo. The British Columbia government goes up against dozens of health care and pharmaceutical companies in court today in a bid get certification for a class-action lawsuit over the costs of the opioid crisis. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Graeme Roy

B.C. opioid class action suit seeks certification in court today

Hearing expected to last a month, success would clear path to civil trial against drug firms

 

The Supreme Court of Canada has agreed to hear an appeal from four pharmaceutical manufacturers, distributors or retailers trying to halt a proposed class-action lawsuit by the British Columbia government. The flag of the Supreme Court of Canada flies in Ottawa, on Monday, Nov. 28, 2022. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Sean Kilpatrick

Drug firms fighting B.C. opioid class action suit get day in Supreme Court

Manufacturers, distributors and retailers challenging legislation that enabled case to be launched

 

North Island Hospital – Campbell River and District. Photo by Alistair Taylor/Campbell River Mirror

In-demand harm reduction supplies coming 24/7 outside 3 Island hospitals

New Care and Connection Kiosks coming to Campbell River, Nanaimo and Victoria hospitals

 

FILE - An NYPD vehicle responds, Feb. 20, 2019, in New York. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II, File)

NYC day care owner, neighbor arrested after toddler dies from opioid exposure

Three other children sickened

FILE - An NYPD vehicle responds, Feb. 20, 2019, in New York. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II, File)
Edward James Waddell was found dead in a Kelowna cell on April 1, 2017. (Submitted)

Kelowna Court hears that man died by overdose while in custody

Edward James Waddell was found dead in Kelowna jail on April 1, 2017

Edward James Waddell was found dead in a Kelowna cell on April 1, 2017. (Submitted)
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)
The Yukon provincial flag flies on a flagpole in Ottawa, Monday July 6, 2020. A Yukon First Nation has declared a state of emergency related to the opioid crisis, calling it an “emergency that is terrorizing the public.” THE CANADIAN PRESS/Adrian Wyld

Yukon First Nation declares state of emergency over opioids ‘terrorizing’ community

Declaration comes after a double homicide on Saturday of two Whitehorse men in remote town of Mayo

The Yukon provincial flag flies on a flagpole in Ottawa, Monday July 6, 2020. A Yukon First Nation has declared a state of emergency related to the opioid crisis, calling it an “emergency that is terrorizing the public.” THE CANADIAN PRESS/Adrian Wyld
FILE—Vanessa Caudel, a nurse, sits at her work station in the Great Circle treatment center on Feb. 24, 2022, in Salem, Ore., where she provides doses of methadone, which can relieve the “dope sick” symptoms a person in opioid withdrawal experiences. Almost two years after Oregonians voted to decriminalize drugs and dedicate hundreds of millions of dollars to treatment services, the pioneering effort has been struggling to show progress. (AP Photo/Andrew Selsky, File)

After rocky start, hopes up in Oregon drug decriminalization

State still has one of highest addiction rates in country

FILE—Vanessa Caudel, a nurse, sits at her work station in the Great Circle treatment center on Feb. 24, 2022, in Salem, Ore., where she provides doses of methadone, which can relieve the “dope sick” symptoms a person in opioid withdrawal experiences. Almost two years after Oregonians voted to decriminalize drugs and dedicate hundreds of millions of dollars to treatment services, the pioneering effort has been struggling to show progress. (AP Photo/Andrew Selsky, File)
Moms Stop the Harm advocates and supporters gather at Centennial Square on the sixth anniversary of a public health emergency due to the opioid-related deaths across British Columbia, in Victoria on April 14, 2022. B.C. says it has suffered more than 10,000 overdose deaths since the province declared a public health emergency in April 2016. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Chad Hipolito

Moms Stop the Harm planning overdose awareness events across B.C.

Grassroots group teaching naloxone administration and providing place to grieve without stigma

Moms Stop the Harm advocates and supporters gather at Centennial Square on the sixth anniversary of a public health emergency due to the opioid-related deaths across British Columbia, in Victoria on April 14, 2022. B.C. says it has suffered more than 10,000 overdose deaths since the province declared a public health emergency in April 2016. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Chad Hipolito
FILE - In this 2018 file photo, oxycodone pills are displayed in New York. (AP Photo/Mark Lennihan, File)

B.C. nurse banned for 5 years for mishandling opioid pain killers

Jacob Sears couldn’t provide a credible explanation for his actions, nurses college found

FILE - In this 2018 file photo, oxycodone pills are displayed in New York. (AP Photo/Mark Lennihan, File)
Garth Mullins holds a Naloxone anti-overdose kit in downtown Vancouver, Friday, Feb. 10, 2017. Advocates say while recent commissioned research on public awareness of opioids is flawed, the federal government can take meaningful steps to reduce stigma against opioid use.THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jonathan Hayward

Advocates say the federal government can do more to address opioid use stigma

Since January 2016, over 29,000 Canadians have died from opioid-related causes

Garth Mullins holds a Naloxone anti-overdose kit in downtown Vancouver, Friday, Feb. 10, 2017. Advocates say while recent commissioned research on public awareness of opioids is flawed, the federal government can take meaningful steps to reduce stigma against opioid use.THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jonathan Hayward
A sign is displayed in front of Health Canada headquarters in Ottawa on Friday, January 3, 2014. A national substance use research organization is warning about a new type of opioid that is increasingly being found in Canada’s unregulated drug supply. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Sean Kilpatrick

Rise of new opioid highlights unpredictable drug supply: Expert

Rising presence in the drug supply of potent synthetic opioids referred to as nitazenes

A sign is displayed in front of Health Canada headquarters in Ottawa on Friday, January 3, 2014. A national substance use research organization is warning about a new type of opioid that is increasingly being found in Canada’s unregulated drug supply. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Sean Kilpatrick
Paramedic Specialists Brian Twaites and David Hilder of B.C. Ambulance debrief after responding to a drug overdose in downtown Vancouver, Wednesday, June 23, 2021. Over the past several years the drug overdoses not only across British Columbia but throughout Canada have but grown. On June, 23, 2021 for instance B.C. Ambulance paramedics responded to 140 overdose calls across the province with 42 of those being just in Vancouver. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jonathan Hayward

B.C. paramedics receive record number of overdose calls in 2021, up 31% since 2020

Calls have nearly tripled since 2015, BCEHS says

Paramedic Specialists Brian Twaites and David Hilder of B.C. Ambulance debrief after responding to a drug overdose in downtown Vancouver, Wednesday, June 23, 2021. Over the past several years the drug overdoses not only across British Columbia but throughout Canada have but grown. On June, 23, 2021 for instance B.C. Ambulance paramedics responded to 140 overdose calls across the province with 42 of those being just in Vancouver. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jonathan Hayward
A new mail-in program initiated by the University of Victoria allows Vancouver Island drug users in centres without drug-testing facilities to send in samples to be rapid-tested for toxic substances. (Photo courtesy Vancouver Island University)

Vancouver Islanders can now have opioids, other drugs lab-checked by mail

UVic-led drug checking project provides anonymous online results within a day of receiving sample

A new mail-in program initiated by the University of Victoria allows Vancouver Island drug users in centres without drug-testing facilities to send in samples to be rapid-tested for toxic substances. (Photo courtesy Vancouver Island University)
The Yukon provincial flag flies on a flag pole in Ottawa, Monday July 6, 2020. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Adrian Wyld

Yukon’s illicit overdose death toll now highest in Canada: coroner

Opioid fatalities now represent over 20 per cent of all deaths investigated by Yukon’s coroner

The Yukon provincial flag flies on a flag pole in Ottawa, Monday July 6, 2020. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Adrian Wyld
A used naloxone kit is seen on the sidewalk as paramedics from B.C. Ambulance respond to a drug overdose in downtown Vancouver, Wednesday, June 23, 2021. Over the past several years the drug overdoses not only across British Columbia but throughout Canada have but grown. On June, 23, 2021 for instance B.C. Ambulance paramedics responded to 140 overdose calls across the province with 42 of those being just in Vancouver. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jonathan Hayward

Illicit drug deaths hit grim record high in the first 9 months of 2021: BC Coroners Service

Coroners service said that the death rate from illicit drug overdoses has risen to 39.4 per 100,000 residents

A used naloxone kit is seen on the sidewalk as paramedics from B.C. Ambulance respond to a drug overdose in downtown Vancouver, Wednesday, June 23, 2021. Over the past several years the drug overdoses not only across British Columbia but throughout Canada have but grown. On June, 23, 2021 for instance B.C. Ambulance paramedics responded to 140 overdose calls across the province with 42 of those being just in Vancouver. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jonathan Hayward
Naloxone kits. (Ministry of Health photo)

B.C. nears 500 fatal overdoses in 1st quarter of 2021; 158 deaths in March

Deaths mark a 41% increase from March of last year

Naloxone kits. (Ministry of Health photo)
A woman holds up a sign bearing a photograph of Morgan Goodridge during a memorial march to remember victims of overdose deaths in Vancouver on Saturday, August 15, 2020. The B.C. Coroners Service reported a record number of 175 overdose deaths related to illicit drugs in June. Approximately 5,000 people have died due to illicit-drug overdoses since a public health emergency was declared in 2016. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck

Former health officials, advocates reflect on anniversary of B.C.’s overdose emergency

The year of the pandemic saw record-high overdose deaths

A woman holds up a sign bearing a photograph of Morgan Goodridge during a memorial march to remember victims of overdose deaths in Vancouver on Saturday, August 15, 2020. The B.C. Coroners Service reported a record number of 175 overdose deaths related to illicit drugs in June. Approximately 5,000 people have died due to illicit-drug overdoses since a public health emergency was declared in 2016. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck
FILE – An organizer displays a naloxone kit that people can pick up for free as International Overdose Awareness Day training seminar takes place at Centennial Square in Victoria, B.C., on Saturday August 31, 2019. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Chad Hipolito

B.C. a step closer to having some nurses prescribe opioid alternatives for drug users

There are 23,000 people in the province using opioid alternatives

FILE – An organizer displays a naloxone kit that people can pick up for free as International Overdose Awareness Day training seminar takes place at Centennial Square in Victoria, B.C., on Saturday August 31, 2019. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Chad Hipolito
FILE – A injection kit is seen inside the newly opened Fraser Health supervised consumption site is pictured in Surrey, B.C., Tuesday, June 6, 2017. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jonathan Hayward

‘We’ve been there before’: National phone line launches to prevent overdose deaths

The initiative comes at a time when overdose deaths are spiking

FILE – A injection kit is seen inside the newly opened Fraser Health supervised consumption site is pictured in Surrey, B.C., Tuesday, June 6, 2017. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jonathan Hayward