BC Overdose Deaths

• B.C. minister says intervention paramount on International Overdose Awareness Day

  Thursday marks International Overdose Awareness Day, a worldwide campaign to end overdoses, stigmas and remember those who have passed away.

  Health

  Aug 31, 2023
  
• B.C. reports 179 toxic drug deaths for October, advocates renew calls for safe supply

  The total fatalities in the first 10 months of the year have reached 1,827 for toxic drug deaths in B.C.

  Health

  Nov 30, 2022
  
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• More than 1,600 deaths from illicit drugs in first 9 months of the year

  At least 171 people died from the toxic illicit drug supply in September alone, according to the BC Coroners Service.

  Health

  Nov 7, 2022
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• B.C. toxic drug deaths double since 2016

  Grim statistics from British Columbia's coroner show the rate of toxic drug deaths has doubled since the province declared a public health emergency in 2016.

  Health

  Sep 15, 2022
• Close to 200 people died from poisoned drugs in B.C. in May

  The numbers released are a 22 per cent increase from the number of deaths reported in April 2021, and bring the total number of poisoned drug deaths in 2022 to at least 940.

  Health

  Jul 14, 2022
• Okanagan reaction to B.C. drug decriminalization mixed

  The federal government formally handed B.C. an exemption under the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act on Tuesday.

  Canada

  May 31, 2022
• B.C. scraps controversial plan to involuntarily treat youth after overdose

  Critics said a lack of support outside a hospital could put youth at greater risk of overdose as their tolerance to toxic street drugs would be lowered during treatment.

  Health

  Apr 29, 2022
• B.C. coroner wants ‘urgent action’ on safer drug supply six years into overdose crisis

  More than 9,400 people in the province have died of an overdose from toxic illicit drugs since the B.C. government declared a public health emergency six years ago.

  Health

  Apr 12, 2022
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• More people died from illicit toxic drugs in 2021 in B.C. than in any other year

  The average number of deaths per day in 2021 was 6.1, but chief coroner Lisa Lapointe said the number climbed to about seven each day in the last two months of the year.

  Health

  Feb 9, 2022
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• ‘Absolutely devastating’: Recovering user reflects on B.C.’s worst year of the opioid crisis

  The BC Coroners Service reported 201 suspected deaths from illicit drug toxicity in October — the province’s deadliest month on record.

  Health

  Dec 10, 2021