Drugs

Minister of Mental Health and Addictions Sheila Malcolmson speaks during a press conference in the press gallery at the Legislature in Victoria, Monday, Nov. 1, 2021. In the absence of a national policy on personal drug possession, some Canadian jurisdictions have submitted requests for exemptions from criminal penalties for those who carry small amounts of illicit drugs for personal use. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Chad Hipolito

Jurisdictions looking to decriminalize small amounts of drugs to curb overdose deaths

Canadian cities, provinces say decriminalization would help reduce stigma associated with drug use

Minister of Mental Health and Addictions Sheila Malcolmson speaks during a press conference in the press gallery at the Legislature in Victoria, Monday, Nov. 1, 2021. In the absence of a national policy on personal drug possession, some Canadian jurisdictions have submitted requests for exemptions from criminal penalties for those who carry small amounts of illicit drugs for personal use. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Chad Hipolito
Researchers from UBC Okanagan identified ketamine as a tool in the fight against mental illness (UBCO)

Clinic for psychedelic therapy a 1st for Okanagan

Research out of UBCO shows promising results of Ketamine to treat mental illness

Researchers from UBC Okanagan identified ketamine as a tool in the fight against mental illness (UBCO)
Levi Manson holds a photo of his late brother, Aaron, joined by mom Troylana and dad Bart. This photo was taken in September 2021 at Prince Charles Park in downtown Kamloops. (Michael Potestio/KTW/LJI)

Family reeling after little-known drug Kratom contributes to B.C. man’s fatal overdose

Aaron Manson, 26, died after overdosing in his room in Kamloops

  • Feb 3, 2022
Levi Manson holds a photo of his late brother, Aaron, joined by mom Troylana and dad Bart. This photo was taken in September 2021 at Prince Charles Park in downtown Kamloops. (Michael Potestio/KTW/LJI)
Guns, drugs, cash and cars were among the items seized by Coquitlam RCMP in a gang-linked bust. (Coquitlam RCMP)
Guns, drugs, cash and cars were among the items seized by Coquitlam RCMP in a gang-linked bust. (Coquitlam RCMP)
Methamphetamine, heroin and cocaine from a safe supply being handed out to drug users by the Vancouver Area Network of Drug Users, Drug User Liberation Front and Moms Stop the Harm to mark International Overdose Awareness Day, are displayed in the Downtown Eastside of Vancouver, on Tuesday, August 31, 2021. British Columbia’s chief coroner says at least 1,011 people died from suspected illicit drug overdoses from January to June, the highest death toll recorded in the first six months of a calendar year during the province’s overdose crisis. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck

Alberta police chiefs say too soon to support drug decriminalization

Calgary chief constable says decriminalization alone wouldn’t reduce addiction or overdose rates.

Methamphetamine, heroin and cocaine from a safe supply being handed out to drug users by the Vancouver Area Network of Drug Users, Drug User Liberation Front and Moms Stop the Harm to mark International Overdose Awareness Day, are displayed in the Downtown Eastside of Vancouver, on Tuesday, August 31, 2021. British Columbia’s chief coroner says at least 1,011 people died from suspected illicit drug overdoses from January to June, the highest death toll recorded in the first six months of a calendar year during the province’s overdose crisis. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck
Minister of Health Jean-Yves Duclos participates in a news conference on the COVID-19 pandemic and the omicron variant, in Ottawa, on Friday, Dec. 17, 2021. Duclos has put a six-month pause on new regulations designed to lower the cost of patented medicines in Canada. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Justin Tang

Liberals delay new regulations to lower price of medicines in Canada

The regulations were supposed to come into force at the beginning of January

Minister of Health Jean-Yves Duclos participates in a news conference on the COVID-19 pandemic and the omicron variant, in Ottawa, on Friday, Dec. 17, 2021. Duclos has put a six-month pause on new regulations designed to lower the cost of patented medicines in Canada. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Justin Tang
An addict uses the sign for a mobile needle exchange program to block the wind as he tries to smoke crack in an alley in Abbotsford, B.C., on July 5, 2012. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jonathan Hayward

More work to be done as Canada ranks sixth in global drug policy index: experts

Canadian Drug Policy Coalition: ‘It’s a passing grade, but (Canada) is not doing well’

An addict uses the sign for a mobile needle exchange program to block the wind as he tries to smoke crack in an alley in Abbotsford, B.C., on July 5, 2012. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jonathan Hayward
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
Dr. Raimar Lobenberg, director of Applied Pharmaceutical Innovation and University of Alberta professor, works with researcher Chulhun Park on an automated filling machine in a cleanroom used for clinical trial production in an undated handout photo. THE CANADIAN PRESS/HO-University of Alberta, *MANDATORY CREDIT*

Scientists hope to link lab bench with pharmacy shelves through Edmonton drug plant

World-leading lab, drug manufacturer hope to plug hole in Canada’s drug supply system

Dr. Raimar Lobenberg, director of Applied Pharmaceutical Innovation and University of Alberta professor, works with researcher Chulhun Park on an automated filling machine in a cleanroom used for clinical trial production in an undated handout photo. THE CANADIAN PRESS/HO-University of Alberta, *MANDATORY CREDIT*
A shelf of drugs at a pharmacy in Quebec City on March 8, 2012. Critics of a major drug-price overhaul hope a new federal cabinet will put a temporary stop to the new regulations set to come into effect in January. The Patented Medicine Prices Review Board is set to change the way it sets a price cap on medicines in Canada in an effort to lower excessively expensive drug prices. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jacques Boissinot

Critics hope Trudeau’s new cabinet will put a stop to drug-price regulation changes

Overhaul has drawn the disapproval of patient groups and drug manufacturers

A shelf of drugs at a pharmacy in Quebec City on March 8, 2012. Critics of a major drug-price overhaul hope a new federal cabinet will put a temporary stop to the new regulations set to come into effect in January. The Patented Medicine Prices Review Board is set to change the way it sets a price cap on medicines in Canada in an effort to lower excessively expensive drug prices. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jacques Boissinot
People hold a banner during a march to remember those who died during the overdose crisis and to call for a safe supply of illicit drugs on International Overdose Awareness Day, in Vancouver, on Tuesday, August 31, 2021. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is being urged to decriminalize the possession and use of illicit drugs as a way to combat the opioid crisis that has resulted in thousands of deaths in Canada.THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck

Trudeau urged to make decriminalization of illicit drugs a priority

Almost 23,000 Canadians died from an opioid overdose between January 2016 and March 2021

People hold a banner during a march to remember those who died during the overdose crisis and to call for a safe supply of illicit drugs on International Overdose Awareness Day, in Vancouver, on Tuesday, August 31, 2021. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is being urged to decriminalize the possession and use of illicit drugs as a way to combat the opioid crisis that has resulted in thousands of deaths in Canada.THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck
A photo of the drugs seized on the sailboat that was caught off the coast of Nova Scotia. (Photo: RCMP)

Kelowna man arrested after 500 kilos of cocaine found on boat near Nova Scotia

Aleck Villeneuve, 38, faces several drug trafficking charges

A photo of the drugs seized on the sailboat that was caught off the coast of Nova Scotia. (Photo: RCMP)