fentanyl

This graph shows the increase in Illicit Drug Toxicity Deaths in all health authorities in B.C., based on data provided by the BC Coroners Service. (BC Centre for Disease Control image)

‘Everyone’s best friend’ dies from toxic drugs in Salmon Arm, sister lobbies for safe drug supply

Family, health-care professionals see removing stigma of addictions also key to saving lives

 

A large quantity of drugs, including fentanyl, were discovered on a wanted person by an alert RCMP officer in Vernon recently. (Vernon North Okanagan RCMP photo)

Wanted man arrested with fentanyl, meth, cocaine, weapons in Vernon

Alert RCMP officer recognized the individual and discovered large quantity of street drugs

 

Victoria police seized $30 million in fentanyl, drugs, cash and firearms during Project Juliet in 2020. (Courtesy of Victoria Police Department)

Three men charged related to 2020 drug busts in BC Lower Mainland, Vancouver Island

Project Juliet saw the seizure of fentanyl, drugs, cash, firearms valued at $30 million

 

A bag of fentanyl was seized in the coordinated Lower Mainland drug bust. (B.C. CFSEU)

B.C. anti-gang unit seizes 9 kg of ‘potentially deadly’ fentanyl

The bust was the end of a 10-month drug trafficking investigation into Lower Mainland criminals with ties to gang activity

A bag of fentanyl was seized in the coordinated Lower Mainland drug bust. (B.C. CFSEU)
British Columbia on track to record more than 2,000 deaths this year due to an ongoing supply of toxic drugs. (Paul Henderson/ Chilliwack Progress file)

Toxic drug crisis disproportionately killing B.C.’s First Nations people

First Nations Health Authority reports First Nations people killed at more than five times B.C. rate

British Columbia on track to record more than 2,000 deaths this year due to an ongoing supply of toxic drugs. (Paul Henderson/ Chilliwack Progress file)
Superintendent Aaron Paradis, community services officer with the Surrey RCMP, during a media availability about a recent drug bust in Port Coquitlam. (Photo: Lauren Collins)

Police seize 13 million ‘potentially fatal doses’ of pure fentanyl at B.C. drug lab

The evidence was seized at large, illicit drug manufacturing site in Port Coquitlam

Superintendent Aaron Paradis, community services officer with the Surrey RCMP, during a media availability about a recent drug bust in Port Coquitlam. (Photo: Lauren Collins)
An alert has been issued in #Kelowna for white and beige powdered substances. (Interior Health)

Drug alert issued for Kelowna and West Kelowna

Powdered substances are being sold as fentanyl and may contain fentanyl and benzos

An alert has been issued in #Kelowna for white and beige powdered substances. (Interior Health)
Pink fentanyl has been found in street drugs in Vernon. (Interior Health photo)

Two drug alerts issued in North Okanagan

Pink fentanyl and purple down discovered, both may not be responsive to Naloxone

Pink fentanyl has been found in street drugs in Vernon. (Interior Health photo)
Penticton paramedics took about 70 per cent more calls for drug overdoses in 2020 compared to 2019, Interior Health representatives told Penticton council Tuesday, Dec. 8, 2020. (Jesse Day - Western News)

Penticton overdose calls see drastic increase in 2020

Overdose deaths, however, are down in the city

Penticton paramedics took about 70 per cent more calls for drug overdoses in 2020 compared to 2019, Interior Health representatives told Penticton council Tuesday, Dec. 8, 2020. (Jesse Day - Western News)
The Supreme Court of Canada is seen at sunset in Ottawa, Tuesday September 1, 2020. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Adrian Wyld

Supreme Court to examine minimum sentences for fentanyl trafficking

The high court has agreed to jointly hear the appeals of two men who received stiffer penalties

The Supreme Court of Canada is seen at sunset in Ottawa, Tuesday September 1, 2020. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Adrian Wyld
Data released by the B.C. Coroners Service Sept. 23, 2020 shows that the Okanagan is on pace to record more overdose deaths in 2020 than in 2019. (Jesse Day - Western News)

2020 overdose death toll rises to 73 in the Okanagan

Just under half of the deaths occurred in Kelowna

Data released by the B.C. Coroners Service Sept. 23, 2020 shows that the Okanagan is on pace to record more overdose deaths in 2020 than in 2019. (Jesse Day - Western News)
Fentanyl (Courtesy photo)

Nanaimo man found with fentanyl in North Okanagan

Himpfen enters guilty plea to possession for the purpose of trafficking

Fentanyl (Courtesy photo)
Photos of Elliot Eurchuk at different stages of his short life. The Oak Bay teen died of a fentanyl overdose in April 2018. (Black Press Media file photo)

Coroner emphasizes jury’s recommendations in B.C. teen’s overdose death

16-year-old Elliot Eurchuk died of a fentanyl overdose in 2018

Photos of Elliot Eurchuk at different stages of his short life. The Oak Bay teen died of a fentanyl overdose in April 2018. (Black Press Media file photo)
The BC Nurses Union wants the federal government to decriminalize opioids. As front line workers, like paramedics and firefighters, they see the effects illicit drugs are having on a growing number of people. File photo.

BC Nurses Union calls for decriminalization of opioids

BCNU president wants the federal government to do more to reduce preventable deaths

The BC Nurses Union wants the federal government to decriminalize opioids. As front line workers, like paramedics and firefighters, they see the effects illicit drugs are having on a growing number of people. File photo.
Fentanyl pills seized by police in Alberta. (RCMP)

B.C. moves to restrict pill presses in opioid battle

Minister Mike Farnworth says federal law doesn’t go far enough

Fentanyl pills seized by police in Alberta. (RCMP)
Police seized cocained and other drugs in a bust of an individual suspected of selling drugs from a home next to a daycare and near Quadra elementary school. File photo

Suspected drug dealer arrested for selling beside B.C. daycare

Cocaine, crystal meth, fentanyl-laced heroin seized, plus cash

Police seized cocained and other drugs in a bust of an individual suspected of selling drugs from a home next to a daycare and near Quadra elementary school. File photo
Two men remain in custody, after being arrested last week on suspicion of trafficking fentanyl and cocaine. The drugs were believed to be headed for downtown Victoria. (News files)

Fentanyl seized in B.C. bust ‘enough to kill 125,000 people:’ police

Suspected dealers took BC ferry to Island; arrest made after weeks of investigation

Two men remain in custody, after being arrested last week on suspicion of trafficking fentanyl and cocaine. The drugs were believed to be headed for downtown Victoria. (News files)
Fentanyl seized at a recent bust by the Ridge Meadows RCMP. (Colleen Flanagan/THE NEWS)

Fentanyl-linked overdose deaths soar in B.C.

The opioid was the cause of 81 per cent of the 876 deaths so far this year in the province

Fentanyl seized at a recent bust by the Ridge Meadows RCMP. (Colleen Flanagan/THE NEWS)
Accused drug trafficker a no-show in Revelstoke court

Accused drug trafficker a no-show in Revelstoke court

Kelly Mitchell Hanson Loepkky is charged with trafficking heroin laced with fentanyl

Accused drug trafficker a no-show in Revelstoke court
Pathways Addictions Resource Centre is approved to distribute kits containing the overdose-reversing Naloxone and train people to use them. image courtesy Gov’t of B.C.

Pathways distributing life-saving Naloxone kits

Penticton’s Pathways Addiction Resource Centre is now a Naloxone Training and Distribution Centre

Pathways Addictions Resource Centre is approved to distribute kits containing the overdose-reversing Naloxone and train people to use them. image courtesy Gov’t of B.C.