Drug Deaths

• Tsilhqot’in National Government declares overdose emergency

  A spike in overdose deaths in the six British Columbia nations that make up the Tsilhqot'in National Government has prompted the chiefs to declare a local state of emergency.

  Health

  Apr 12
  
• Piikani Nation declares state of emergency after multiple drug deaths

  Piikani Nation Chief Troy Knowlton and council made the declaration on Tuesday.

  Canada

  Jan 3
  
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• Machines dispensing harm-reduction supplies installed on Vancouver Island

  Island Health has installed three new "Care and Connection Kiosks" outside emergency departments at hospitals in Victoria, Nanaimo and Campbell River.

  Health

  Oct 19, 2023
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• B.C. coroner says fentanyl the main culprit as 184 people died of toxic drugs in June

  Chief Coroner Lisa Lapointe says illicit fentanyl is the main culprit driving the crisis in towns and cities big and small across British Columbia.

  Health

  Jul 19, 2023
• 38 suspected fatal drug overdoses so far in 2023 for Peterborough area

  Peterborough Public Health reports through so far in 2023, there have been 195 emergency department visits for drug poisonings — down from 285 over the same time period in 2022.

  Health

  Jul 10, 2023
• Safe supply: Are prescribed opioids being sold on B.C.’s streets, and if so, is it a problem?

  Allegations that opioids from B.C.'s prescribed safer supply initiative are being diverted to the street became a hot political issue in the B.C. legislature this week.

  Health

  May 11, 2023
• B.C. toxic drug deaths in 2023 approach record numbers

  Numbers released by the BC Coroners Service show deaths from toxic, unregulated drugs have nudged record levels across the province for the second year in a row.

  Health

  Apr 18, 2023
• Island Health testing overdose-detecting sensors in select washrooms

  The health authority has installed the motion detecting sensors, which track how long a person has occupied the bathroom and whether they are moving at six high-risk locations.

  Health

  Mar 17, 2023
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• 2,300 British Columbians died from toxic drug supply in 2022

  Drug toxicity remains the leading cause of unnatural death in British Columbia, and is second only to cancers in terms of years of life lost. 

  Health

  Jan 31, 2023
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• Okanagan saw toxic drug deaths surge this summer

  Nearly 1,300 deaths due to toxic drugs have been reported to the BC Coroners Service between January and July, which is a record number for the first seven months of a year.

  Crime

  Sep 15, 2022