Toxic Drug Deaths

• More than 2,500 people died of toxic drugs in B.C. in 2023, driven by fentanyl

  Unless British Columbia meaningfully expands its safer supply model, it will continue to "count the dead" from toxic unregulated drugs, said Chief Coroner Lisa Lapointe.

  Health

  Jan 24
  
• Illicit drug toxicity now leading cause of death for B.C. residents between 10 and 59: Coroner

  Illicit drug toxicity is now the leading cause of death in B.C. for people between the ages of 10 to 59, surpassing homicides, suicides, accidents and natural diseases combined.

  Health

  Jun 19, 2023
  
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• Hydromorphone playing no ‘significant’ role in toxic drug deaths: B.C. coroner

  According to the BC Coroners Service, more than six people die every day in B.C. from suspected toxic drug poisonings. Last year was the deadliest on record.

  Health

  Jun 5, 2023
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• B.C. addictions doctor raises concerns about safer supply as minister offers reassurance

  B.C. launched its prescribed safer supply program in the midst of the pandemic, in the fifth year of its seven-year public health emergency declared to combat the overdose crisis.

  Health

  May 26, 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
• Parents, politicians call for care, compassion on 7th anniversary of B.C. overdose crisis

  Paramedics went from responding to roughly 14,000 overdose calls in 2016 to more than 33,000 in 2022, according to B.C. Emergency Health Services.

  Health

  Apr 14, 2023
• Former B.C. paramedic gives advice on the 7th anniversary of the overdose crisis

  B.C. was the first jurisdiction in Canada to declare a public health emergency over increasing overdoses on April 14, 2016, after overdose deaths reached 474 in 2015.

  Health

  Apr 14, 2023
• B.C. marks 7th anniversary of overdose emergency with grim record statistics

  B.C. set records in March for the most overdose calls in one day and the most consecutive days where paramedics attended 100 or more poisonings.

  Health

  Apr 13, 2023
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• Safe consumption forefront of countering the overdose crisis, prime minister says

  More than 1,800 people died of illicit drug overdoses in the first 10 months of this year, while almost 10,700 have died since B.C. declared a health emergency in April 2016.

  Health

  Dec 2, 2022
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• Press conference and events held across B.C. for International Overdose Awareness Day

  Events are being held across the province to raise awareness regarding the ongoing opioid health crisis.

  Health

  Aug 31, 2022