opioid crisis

Drug user advocates are raising concerns over British Columbia’s request for Health Canada to give police power to step in when they see illicit drug use in public spaces, saying it may be a step backward in the fight against the deadly opioid crisis. Andrew Leavens, front left, and Carl Gladue, front 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, B.C., Thursday, Aug. 31, 2023. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck

Drug user advocates concerned over B.C.’s decriminalization exception request

Advocates say public drug use ban will impact homeless, impoverished the most

 

Michael Guy looks on as his brother Stefan holds one of Michael’s children. Michael died of toxic drug poisoning in Nelson in June 2023. Photo courtesy Guy family

Before he died, Nelson’s Michael Guy relied on a now-closed support centre

Michael Guy was among a record number of people to die of drug poisonings in Nelson last year

 

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, Jan. 30, 2023. On March 12, 2024, she announced fresh funding to better support existing mental-health and addictions recovery and treatment beds. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck

Fresh funds to increase support for B.C.’s recovery and treatment beds

Money to allow existing sites to hire more staff, keep up with increasing costs, province says

 

The BC Naturopathic Doctors Association is asking the provincial government to allow practitioners to prescribe safer supply and opioid agonist treatment in B.C. (Pixabay)

B.C. naturopaths look to prescribe safer supply, reiterate call to province

Naturopathic doctors say they’re ‘ready’ to fight the toxic drug crisis, but waiting on B.C.’s approval

The BC Naturopathic Doctors Association is asking the provincial government to allow practitioners to prescribe safer supply and opioid agonist treatment in B.C. (Pixabay)
B.C. Provincial Health Officer Dr. Bonnie Henry steps away from the podium after speaking during a news conference in Vancouver, on Monday, January 30, 2023. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck

B.C.’s top doctor concerned about substance use among children, youth

Safer supply review notes there is some diversion, but hesitant to point blame

B.C. Provincial Health Officer Dr. Bonnie Henry steps away from the podium after speaking during a news conference in Vancouver, on Monday, January 30, 2023. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck
Premier David Eby, here seen with Mental Health and Addictions Minister Jennifer Whiteside and Jonny Morris, Chief Executive Officer at Canadian Mental Health Association, says B.C. won’t follow Oregon’s plan as it plans to reverse elements of its drug decriminalization law. But B.C. will continue to monitor other jurisdictions’ responses to deaths from unregulated drugs. (Screencap)

B.C. won’t follow Oregon in drug decriminalization reversal: Eby

Province set a new record in 2023 with at least 2,511 deaths related to unregulated drugs

Premier David Eby, here seen with Mental Health and Addictions Minister Jennifer Whiteside and Jonny Morris, Chief Executive Officer at Canadian Mental Health Association, says B.C. won’t follow Oregon’s plan as it plans to reverse elements of its drug decriminalization law. But B.C. will continue to monitor other jurisdictions’ responses to deaths from unregulated drugs. (Screencap)
B.C. Attorney General Niki Sharma, here seen speaking in Ottawa in 2023, says the provincial government has decided to file a notice of appeal to overturn the court order that has temporarily blocked legislation promising public safety but facing criticism for stigmatizing drug users.(THE CANADIAN PRESS/Spencer Colby)

B.C. challenges court order temporarily blocking public safety law

A court blocked Restricting Public Consumption of Illegal Substances Act in late 2023

B.C. Attorney General Niki Sharma, here seen speaking in Ottawa in 2023, says the provincial government has decided to file a notice of appeal to overturn the court order that has temporarily blocked legislation promising public safety but facing criticism for stigmatizing drug users.(THE CANADIAN PRESS/Spencer Colby)
B.C. Premier David Eby speaks during a news conference in Vancouver, B.C., Tuesday, Jan. 9, 2024. Eby says he’s disturbed by the record number of people who died in the province last year of illicit drug overdoses and recognizes they aren’t doing enough to stop it. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Ethan Cairns

Eby underscores ‘fundamental’ disagreement with B.C. chief coroner on safe supply

Lapointe used her final public event as chief coroner to call out current gaps

B.C. Premier David Eby speaks during a news conference in Vancouver, B.C., Tuesday, Jan. 9, 2024. Eby says he’s disturbed by the record number of people who died in the province last year of illicit drug overdoses and recognizes they aren’t doing enough to stop it. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Ethan Cairns
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

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)
New figures show at least 2,511 people died of regulated drugs in 2023 with several communities, both large and small, both urban and rural, seeing spikes. (Black Press Media file photo)

Downtown Eastside, but also B.C.’s rural communities hit hard by drug crisis

Several smaller communities saw unregulated drug deaths exceeding 100 per 100,000 population

New figures show at least 2,511 people died of regulated drugs in 2023 with several communities, both large and small, both urban and rural, seeing spikes. (Black Press Media file photo)
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

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
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)
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
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)