Drugs

Chief Coroner Lisa Lapointe provides an update on illicit drug toxicity deaths in the province during a press conference at B.C. Legislature in Victoria, B.C., on Monday, February 24, 2020. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Chad Hipolito

Overdoses from smoking toxic drugs outpace B.C. prevention sites

Chief coroner says more supervised places required

 

In this photo posted to social media on May 2, needles and other garbage can be seen left on a picnic table near the playground at the Parksville Community Park. - Facebook photo

Island mayor happy drug use in parks being phased out by province

Sweeping changes prohibit the use of drugs near parks in B.C., including Courtenay

 

Chadd Cawson greets young Anna Park at the start of the event in Crofton. (Photo by Don Bodger)

Special performances, walk mark International Overdose Awareness Day in Crofton

Organizer pleased with the response for a first-time event

 

Chadd Cawson has organized walks in Winnipeg and Victoria, and is now doing one for International Overdose Awareness Day in Crofton Aug. 31. (Photo by Don Bodger)

Overdose awareness walk in Crofton about healing, bringing community together

Reporter directly impacted by the toxic drug crisis organizes Aug. 31 event at the Sea Walk

Chadd Cawson has organized walks in Winnipeg and Victoria, and is now doing one for International Overdose Awareness Day in Crofton Aug. 31. (Photo by Don Bodger)
A shortage of diabetes drug Ozempic that is used off-label for weight loss is expected in Canada, manufacturer Novo Nordisk says. The injectable drug Ozempic is shown in Houston, Saturday, July 1, 2023. THE CANADIAN PRESS/AP-David J. Phillip

Shortage of diabetes and weight loss drug Ozempic pending in Canada

Manufacturer says global supply structure creating issues that will be felt into the fall

A shortage of diabetes drug Ozempic that is used off-label for weight loss is expected in Canada, manufacturer Novo Nordisk says. The injectable drug Ozempic is shown in Houston, Saturday, July 1, 2023. THE CANADIAN PRESS/AP-David J. Phillip
Six men were charged in relation to a large-scale drug lab bust in Lumby in 2018. (RCMP photo)

Large Okanagan drug lab leads to 11 years jail for 2 men

Trent Fussi and Robyn Bryson are among six people to be sentenced after the lab was busted in 2018

Six men were charged in relation to a large-scale drug lab bust in Lumby in 2018. (RCMP photo)
B.C. Addictions Minister Jennifer Whiteside in Chilliwack announcing $3 million expansion of mobile integrated crisis response teams to Chilliwack, Abbotsford and seven other B.C. communities. (Jennifer Feinberg/ Chilliwack Progress)

B.C. expands crises response teams to 9 communities

Mobile Integrated Crisis Response teams are coming to nine additional communities for a total of 21

B.C. Addictions Minister Jennifer Whiteside in Chilliwack announcing $3 million expansion of mobile integrated crisis response teams to Chilliwack, Abbotsford and seven other B.C. communities. (Jennifer Feinberg/ Chilliwack Progress)
Minister of Mental Health and Addictions and Associate Minister of Health Carolyn Bennett rises during question period in the House of Commons on Parliament Hill in Ottawa on Thursday, June 1, 2023. Dozens of community and Indigenous groups across Western Canada will share $20 million in federal funding to boost their drug awareness, treatment, rehabilitation and mental-health services. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Sean Kilpatrick

Feds announce $20M for drug rehab programs across Western Canada

Minister in Squamish to announce funds for community and Indigenous-based treatment

Minister of Mental Health and Addictions and Associate Minister of Health Carolyn Bennett rises during question period in the House of Commons on Parliament Hill in Ottawa on Thursday, June 1, 2023. Dozens of community and Indigenous groups across Western Canada will share $20 million in federal funding to boost their drug awareness, treatment, rehabilitation and mental-health services. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Sean Kilpatrick
FILE - The White House is seen, July 30, 2022, in Washington. The White House was briefly evacuated Sunday evening while President Joe Biden was at Camp David after a suspicious powder was discovered by the Secret Service in a common area of the West Wing, and a preliminary test showed the substance was cocaine, two law enforcement officials said Tuesday.(AP Photo/Manuel Balce Ceneta, File)

Suspicious powder found at the White House when Biden was gone was cocaine, AP sources say

WASHINGTON (AP) — The White House was briefly evacuated Sunday evening while…

FILE - The White House is seen, July 30, 2022, in Washington. The White House was briefly evacuated Sunday evening while President Joe Biden was at Camp David after a suspicious powder was discovered by the Secret Service in a common area of the West Wing, and a preliminary test showed the substance was cocaine, two law enforcement officials said Tuesday.(AP Photo/Manuel Balce Ceneta, File)
An advertisement for Ozempic is seen on a billboard in Toronto on Friday, June 16, 2023. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Cole Burston

Ozempic ads seem to be everywhere, doctors and ethics experts are worried

Increased attention on diabetes drug turned weight loss treatment has watchdogs on alert

An advertisement for Ozempic is seen on a billboard in Toronto on Friday, June 16, 2023. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Cole Burston
(THE CANADIAN PRESS/Sean Kilpatrick)

Conservative Leader Poilievre elaborates on controversial Kelowna tent city tweet

Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre spoke with Capital News about homelessness in Kelowna

(THE CANADIAN PRESS/Sean Kilpatrick)
FILE - Union of British Columbia Municipalities president Jen Ford speaks at the 2022 convention on Sept. 16, 2022. Ford welcomes Premier David Eby’s promises to help municipalities around drug use in public spaces as more communities are looking at their options, but she’s urging speed.(UBCM/Flickr)

UBCM president welcomes Eby’s support on public drug-use issue, but urges speed

Whistler Coun. Jen Ford says ‘there is not one solution that works for everyone’

FILE - Union of British Columbia Municipalities president Jen Ford speaks at the 2022 convention on Sept. 16, 2022. Ford welcomes Premier David Eby’s promises to help municipalities around drug use in public spaces as more communities are looking at their options, but she’s urging speed.(UBCM/Flickr)
(File)

Enough meth, cocaine and fentanyl to ‘supply entire community’ seized near Nakusp

The drugs were in a car found in a ditch with two sleeping passengers by RCMP

  • May 17, 2023
(File)
Nanaimo city council has asked for a report on options to regulate drug use in public spaces. (News Bulletin file photo)

Nanaimo looking at its options for regulating drug use in public places

City council votes 5-4 to ask for staff report on options

Nanaimo city council has asked for a report on options to regulate drug use in public spaces. (News Bulletin file photo)
Former mayor of Kamloops and BC United Shadow Finance Minister Peter Milobar calls for a province-wide drug use in municipal parks and playgrounds. (Wolf Depner/News Staff)

B.C. MLA calls for provincewide ban on drug use in parks, playgrounds

BC United’s Peter Milobar says ban would end current confusion around municipal bylaws

Former mayor of Kamloops and BC United Shadow Finance Minister Peter Milobar calls for a province-wide drug use in municipal parks and playgrounds. (Wolf Depner/News Staff)
Several recent incidents of young people finding discarded plastic baggies with possible drug residue prompted the Nanaimo RCMP issue basic safety tips around proper handling and disposal. (Photo submitted)

RCMP issue safety warning after drugs found in school yard in Nanaimo

Police recommend careful handling of drugs and related paraphernalia

Several recent incidents of young people finding discarded plastic baggies with possible drug residue prompted the Nanaimo RCMP issue basic safety tips around proper handling and disposal. (Photo submitted)
Jimmy Webb, 52, is Prince George’s fifth homicide victim of 2023. RCMP believe each of the five deaths are linked to the local drug trade. (Photo courtesy of Prince George RCMP)

Police investigating 5th Prince George homicide of the year, all linked to drug trade

52-year-old James Webb latest person to be found dead

Jimmy Webb, 52, is Prince George’s fifth homicide victim of 2023. RCMP believe each of the five deaths are linked to the local drug trade. (Photo courtesy of Prince George RCMP)
The First Nations Health Authority have released the 2022 data on toxic drug deaths for Indigenous people in B.C. Dr. Nel Wieman with the First Nations Health Authority 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 ‘particularly and disproportionately’ overrepresented among B.C. toxic drug deaths

First Nations Health Authority releases 2022 data; detail plans for public health response

The First Nations Health Authority have released the 2022 data on toxic drug deaths for Indigenous people in B.C. Dr. Nel Wieman with the First Nations Health Authority 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
Diabetes drug Ozempic is shown at a pharmacy in Toronto on Wednesday, April 19, 2023. British Columbia is enacting a new regulation to ensure the province’s diabetes patients do not face a shortage of the drug widely known as Ozempic. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Joe O’Connal

B.C. works to ensure its Ozempic supply for diabetes patients not U.S. weight loss

Province wants to work with federal government to ensure drug gets to Canadians first

Diabetes drug Ozempic is shown at a pharmacy in Toronto on Wednesday, April 19, 2023. British Columbia is enacting a new regulation to ensure the province’s diabetes patients do not face a shortage of the drug widely known as Ozempic. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Joe O’Connal
Courtenay-Alberni MP Gord Johs talked to mothers who lost their children to drug toxicity at the Day of Action event held in Parksville on Friday, April 14. (Michael Briones photo)

Mothers’ rally in Parksville calling for drug policy changes to stop opioid crisis

MP Gord Johns calls for all politicians to work together

Courtenay-Alberni MP Gord Johs talked to mothers who lost their children to drug toxicity at the Day of Action event held in Parksville on Friday, April 14. (Michael Briones photo)