opioid crisis

A woman walks past a person using a glass pipe to smoke drugs in the Downtown Eastside of Vancouver, on International Overdose Awareness Day on Tuesday, August 31, 2021. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck

Drug users group files decriminalization lawsuit in B.C. Supreme Court

Health Canada spokesman Mark Johnson said that Justice Canada is reviewing the claim

A woman walks past a person using a glass pipe to smoke drugs in the Downtown Eastside of Vancouver, on International Overdose Awareness Day on Tuesday, August 31, 2021. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck
Saanich Mayor Fred Haynes advocates for Opioid Awareness Day along with fellow Saanich council members, who will all receive Naloxone training online on Aug. 31. (Megan Atkins-Baker/News Staff)

Saanich council receiving lifesaving training on Overdose Awareness Day

Public training more critical given opioid overdose epidemic, mayor says

Saanich Mayor Fred Haynes advocates for Opioid Awareness Day along with fellow Saanich council members, who will all receive Naloxone training online on Aug. 31. (Megan Atkins-Baker/News Staff)
Moms Stop the Harm have tied ribbons around lamp posts with pictures of loved ones who have died from drug overdoses. The ribbons are both a memorial and call for action. (Zoe Ducklow/News Staff)

Greater Victoria organizations mark International Overdose Awareness Day

Tuesday, Aug. 31 sees free barbecue, candlelight vigil; groups re-issue calls for action

Moms Stop the Harm have tied ribbons around lamp posts with pictures of loved ones who have died from drug overdoses. The ribbons are both a memorial and call for action. (Zoe Ducklow/News Staff)
Vancouver Island University developed technology, HarmCheck utilizes a technology known as high-throughput paper spray mass spectrometry to provide rapid and accurate drug testing. (Vancouver Island University photo)

New device that tests drugs in minutes boosted by province amid B.C.’s overdose crisis

HarmCheck can provide accurate results in one to two minutes using only a small sample size

Vancouver Island University developed technology, HarmCheck utilizes a technology known as high-throughput paper spray mass spectrometry to provide rapid and accurate drug testing. (Vancouver Island University photo)
FILE – A woman holds up a sign bearing a photograph of Morgan Goodridge during a memorial march to remember victims of overdose deaths in Vancouver on Saturday, August 15, 2020. (THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck)

B.C. becomes 1st in Canada to launch province-wide prescribed safe drug supply access

Program to include prescription fentanyl patches, as well as injectable and tablet forms of hydromorphone

FILE – A woman holds up a sign bearing a photograph of Morgan Goodridge during a memorial march to remember victims of overdose deaths in Vancouver on Saturday, August 15, 2020. (THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck)
Work underway at the Vancouver Island Drug Checking Project. (Photo by Jay Wallace)

Greater Victoria drug checking increases alongside overdose deaths

Service for people using drugs provides support in the absence of a safe supply

Work underway at the Vancouver Island Drug Checking Project. (Photo by Jay Wallace)
This photo provided by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for Utah and introduced as evidence in a 2019 trial shows fentanyl-laced fake oxycodone pills collected during an investigation. Canada’s public health agency says the COVID-19 pandemic drove an increasingly deadly overdose crisis last year that continues to take lives and corrode communities. THE CANADIAN PRESS/AP-U.S. Attorneys Office for Utah via AP

Seventeen Canadians per day died from opioids in 2020: Public Health Agency of Canada

At least 21,174 people have died from apparent opioid toxicity between 2016 and 2020

This photo provided by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for Utah and introduced as evidence in a 2019 trial shows fentanyl-laced fake oxycodone pills collected during an investigation. Canada’s public health agency says the COVID-19 pandemic drove an increasingly deadly overdose crisis last year that continues to take lives and corrode communities. THE CANADIAN PRESS/AP-U.S. Attorneys Office for Utah via AP
Island Heath has issued an overdose advisory for Port Alberni. If someone has overdosed, administering naloxone can help. File photo

Overdose advisory issued for Port Alberni, Cowichan

Island Health warns of increased number of overdoses

Island Heath has issued an overdose advisory for Port Alberni. If someone has overdosed, administering naloxone can help. File photo
Drug injection supplies are pictured inside the newly opened Fraser Health supervised consumption site in Surrey, B.C. Tuesday, June 6, 2017. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jonathan Hayward

B.C. marks 14th month of 100+ deaths as 176 people fatally overdose in April

At least 176 people fatally overdosed, or roughly 11 deaths every two days

Drug injection supplies are pictured inside the newly opened Fraser Health supervised consumption site in Surrey, B.C. Tuesday, June 6, 2017. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jonathan Hayward
Jodi Higgs (right) holds a vial of naloxone and Christine Christensen holds a kit in the parking lot of the Pacific Community Resources Society in Chilliwack on Thursday, May 20, 2021. The society is offering a number of upcoming events, workshops and videos to help educate friends and family members who have loved ones that are drug users. (Jenna Hauck/ Chilliwack Progress)

Educating family, friends key to helping ‘hidden’ population of substance users

Naloxone training one of many ways to help folks closest to unseen population of opioid users

Jodi Higgs (right) holds a vial of naloxone and Christine Christensen holds a kit in the parking lot of the Pacific Community Resources Society in Chilliwack on Thursday, May 20, 2021. The society is offering a number of upcoming events, workshops and videos to help educate friends and family members who have loved ones that are drug users. (Jenna Hauck/ Chilliwack Progress)
Vancouver mayor-elect Kennedy Stewart addresses supporters in Vancouver on Sunday, Oct. 21, 2018. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck

Vancouver mayor says there’s no time to redo details of drug decriminalization plan

Kennedy Stewart says a federal election could see the small window of opportunity close on the city’s bid for an exemption from criminal provisions on simple possession of small amounts of drugs

Vancouver mayor-elect Kennedy Stewart addresses supporters in Vancouver on Sunday, Oct. 21, 2018. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck
NDP MP Sheila Malcolmson speaks with the media about her private members bill regarding abandoned vessels, in Ottawa on Thursday, November 30, 2017. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Adrian Wyld

B.C. to add mental health, substance use support for youth to 15 communities

Roughly $56 million, as part of the 2021 provincial budget, will be used to launch the teams

NDP MP Sheila Malcolmson speaks with the media about her private members bill regarding abandoned vessels, in Ottawa on Thursday, November 30, 2017. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Adrian Wyld
Ambulance crews have been busy with a record number of emergency overdose calls this Wednesday, April 21. (BC Emergency Health Services)

B.C. paramedics responded to a record 138 overdose calls in a single day

Wednesday’s calls included 48 in the Vancouver Coastal Health region and 51 in Fraser Health

Ambulance crews have been busy with a record number of emergency overdose calls this Wednesday, April 21. (BC Emergency Health Services)
Island Health has issued an overdose advisory for Nanaimo. (Black Press Media file photo)

Nanaimo, Comox Valley and Campbell River added to overdose advisory

Island Health warns of ‘toxic drug supply’ in multiple Vancouver Island communities

Island Health has issued an overdose advisory for Nanaimo. (Black Press Media file photo)
Teena Clipston is asking for support for her son as he struggles with his addiction. (Teena Clipston)

‘Where else do we go for help?’: Okanagan mom struggles to aid son fighting opioid addiction

Teena Clipston is learning that help can be hard to find

Teena Clipston is asking for support for her son as he struggles with his addiction. (Teena Clipston)
Local governments such as Cumberland’s are calling for Ottawa to treat opioids as a public health crisis. (Black Press file photo)

Step-brother’s drug death brings overdose crisis close to home for Cumberland councillor

Cumberland supports resolution for Ottawa to treat narcotics as public health emergency

Local governments such as Cumberland’s are calling for Ottawa to treat opioids as a public health crisis. (Black Press file photo)
Dr. Richard Stanwick, chief medical health officer for Island Health, speaks at a press conference on fentanyl at the Victoria Police Department on Nov. 5, 2020. (Black Press Media file photo)
Dr. Richard Stanwick, chief medical health officer for Island Health, speaks at a press conference on fentanyl at the Victoria Police Department on Nov. 5, 2020. (Black Press Media file photo)
A woman holds up a sign bearing a photograph of Morgan Goodridge during a memorial march to remember victims of overdose deaths in Vancouver on Saturday, August 15, 2020. The B.C. Coroners Service reported a record number of 175 overdose deaths related to illicit drugs in June. Approximately 5,000 people have died due to illicit-drug overdoses since a public health emergency was declared in 2016. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck

Former health officials, advocates reflect on anniversary of B.C.’s overdose emergency

The year of the pandemic saw record-high overdose deaths

A woman holds up a sign bearing a photograph of Morgan Goodridge during a memorial march to remember victims of overdose deaths in Vancouver on Saturday, August 15, 2020. The B.C. Coroners Service reported a record number of 175 overdose deaths related to illicit drugs in June. Approximately 5,000 people have died due to illicit-drug overdoses since a public health emergency was declared in 2016. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck
Naloxone is used to treat opioid overdoses. (Black Press Media files)

Island Health issues overdose advisory for Greater Victoria

The advisory directs bystanders to an overdose to call 911 and administer naloxone

Naloxone is used to treat opioid overdoses. (Black Press Media files)
Vancouver Mayor Kennedy Stewart speaks during a press conference in Vancouver on July 4, 2019. The City of Vancouver is providing funding for a now-permanent position to lead an initiative aimed at supporting people who have survived overdoses. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck
Vancouver Mayor Kennedy Stewart speaks during a press conference in Vancouver on July 4, 2019. The City of Vancouver is providing funding for a now-permanent position to lead an initiative aimed at supporting people who have survived overdoses. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck