BC Opioid Crisis

• Counting the cost of British Columbia’s toxic drug crisis

  The toxic drug crisis is one of the most contentious and widely debated issues ahead of British Columbia's provincial election on Oct. 19. 

  Politics

  Sep 28, 2024
  
• B.C. government launches opioid treatment line but critics say the focus is still wrong

  The B.C. government launched an Opioid Treatment Access Line on Tuesday to help people access life-saving medication to treat opioid-use disorder and connect to same-day care.

  Health

  Aug 27, 2024
  
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• B.C. toxic drug deaths down 9% so far in 2024

  B.C.'s Coroners Service says the number of people who have died this year from toxic drug poisoning is down from 2023, but an around six people are still dying every day.

  Health

  Jul 30, 2024
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• Increased safer supply fastest way to reduce toxic drug deaths: B.C. expert panel

  The panel determined prescription-free, quality-controlled drugs is the most viable, scalable short-term option to save lives in B.C.'s toxic drug crisis.

  Health

  Nov 1, 2023
• ‘Critically important’: B.C. needs safe places to inhale drugs, coroner says

  Nearly two-thirds of the overdose deaths in British Columbia this year came after smoking illicit drugs.

  Health

  Oct 1, 2023
• B.C. lost 174 people to toxic drugs in August, 2023 death toll tops 1,600

  Last month's death toll is the lowest monthly number recorded since June of last year, equating to about 5.6 lives lost per day, the B.C. Coroners Service reported Monday.

  Health

  Sep 25, 2023
• B.C. local governments to ask province for more support over drug decriminalization

  Provincial health officer Dr. Bonnie Henry spoke to local leaders at the convention this week asking for patience with the decriminalization program.

  Politics

  Sep 20, 2023
• Dr. Bonnie Henry urges patience as delegates vote on drug crisis resolutions this week

  Henry says decriminalization is meant to remove the label from drug users to promote safer use and to save lives.

  Health

  Sep 18, 2023
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• First supervised injection site in North America marks 20th anniversary in Vancouver

  Unregulated drug toxicity is the leading cause of death in B.C. for people between 10 and 59, according to the BC Coroners Service.

  Health

  Sep 14, 2023
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• It’s been more than 6 months of drug decriminalization in B.C. What’s changed?

  Unregulated drug toxicity is the leading cause of death in B.C. for people between 10 and 59. Six months into decriminalization, has any progress been made?

  Health

  Sep 8, 2023