overdose

Makhan “Mak” Parhar speaks at an anti-mask rally outside the Vancouver Art Gallery on Sunday, Nov. 1, 2020. Parhar died on Nov. 4, 2021 from a fatal combination of illicit drugs, according to the BC Coroners’ Service. (Flat Earth Focker/YouTube.com screenshot)

B.C. COVID-denier Mak Parhar died from toxic drugs, not virus: coroner

Parhar was infected with virus when he died, but it wasn’t what killed him

 

Ben Baker died of an accidental overdose on Jan. 23, 2023. The family is fundraising for two memorial benches to make a monetary donation in Ben’s name to The Last Door in New Westminster. (Ben Baker’s Legacy/GoFundMe)

Benches in West Kelowna, Lower Mainland help keep man’s legacy alive

All additional donations will be donated to the treatment facility Ben stayed at

  • Feb 2, 2023

 

Photo of drug administration supplies from Rutland community. (Submitted)

Multiple overdoses, syringes in neighbourhood falls on shoulders of concerned Kelowna woman

Overdoses on streets of Rutland around supportive housing have increased since opening

 

Jordan Williams laid in a hospital bed on life support for many days before his family made the difficult decision to remove the tubes keeping him alive after using drugs reportedly containing fentanyl. (Photo courtesy of Stormy Narcisse)

Family shares grief after son dies from toxic drug poisoning on small town B.C. streets

‘Something needs to be done’ -mother of man, who died this month after using toxic drugs

Jordan Williams laid in a hospital bed on life support for many days before his family made the difficult decision to remove the tubes keeping him alive after using drugs reportedly containing fentanyl. (Photo courtesy of Stormy Narcisse)
There is a high risk of overdose or fatal overdose. (Interior Health)

Look out for white, light pink powder: Drug alert in Kelowna and Vernon

DOWN contains high levels of fentanyl and depressant drugs

There is a high risk of overdose or fatal overdose. (Interior Health)
Moms Stop the Harm advocates and supporters march to the Ministry of Health building where pictures of loved ones hang on display during the sixth anniversary to mark the public health emergency on opioid-related overdose across the province in Victoria, April 14, 2022. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Chad Hipolito

179 people died from B.C.’s poisoned drug supply in October

October’s numbers bring 2022’s total to 1,827 lives lost

Moms Stop the Harm advocates and supporters march to the Ministry of Health building where pictures of loved ones hang on display during the sixth anniversary to mark the public health emergency on opioid-related overdose across the province in Victoria, April 14, 2022. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Chad Hipolito
A photograph of a person who died due to an illicit drug overdose is tied to a tree with a purple ribbon by members of Moms Stop the Harm, in Vancouver, on Tuesday, August 16, 2022. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck

Drug crisis gets worse as Penticton heads for another record year for fatal overdoses

The city has seen 24 fatalities in 2022 so far compared to 2021’s record of 26

A photograph of a person who died due to an illicit drug overdose is tied to a tree with a purple ribbon by members of Moms Stop the Harm, in Vancouver, on Tuesday, August 16, 2022. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck
A B.C. man is facing charges connecting him to a international criminal organization and two overdose deaths. (Black Press Media file photo)

Alleged B.C. fentanyl trafficker charged in connection with U.S. Navy deaths

Vancouver man believed to operate an international dark web drug and money laundering organization

A B.C. man is facing charges connecting him to a international criminal organization and two overdose deaths. (Black Press Media file photo)
Evidence bags containing fentanyl are displayed during a news conference at Surrey RCMP Headquarters, in Surrey, B.C., on Thursday, Sept. 3, 2020. The federal government is set to make what it's calling an "important announcement" with the British Columbia government on the overdose crisis. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck

Canada to make ‘important announcement’ with B.C. on overdose crisis

Public health approach focused on reducing harms and saving lives to be revealed

Evidence bags containing fentanyl are displayed during a news conference at Surrey RCMP Headquarters, in Surrey, B.C., on Thursday, Sept. 3, 2020. The federal government is set to make what it's calling an "important announcement" with the British Columbia government on the overdose crisis. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck
A used naloxone kit is seen on the sidewalk as paramedics from B.C. Ambulance respond to a drug overdose in downtown Vancouver, Wednesday, June 23, 2021. (THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jonathan Hayward)

Rural B.C. communities record staggering toxic drug poisoning deaths in 1st month of 2022

Eleven recorded deaths in Kamloops in January made it the third most affected township

A used naloxone kit is seen on the sidewalk as paramedics from B.C. Ambulance respond to a drug overdose in downtown Vancouver, Wednesday, June 23, 2021. (THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jonathan Hayward)
Methamphetamine, heroin and cocaine from a safe supply being handed out to drug users by the Vancouver Area Network of Drug Users, Drug User Liberation Front and Moms Stop the Harm to mark International Overdose Awareness Day, are displayed in the Downtown Eastside of Vancouver, on Tuesday, August 31, 2021. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck

Lack of safe supply and evidence-based care at the core of B.C. drug deaths: report

Special death review panel releases ‘road map’ for province to address overdose crisis

Methamphetamine, heroin and cocaine from a safe supply being handed out to drug users by the Vancouver Area Network of Drug Users, Drug User Liberation Front and Moms Stop the Harm to mark International Overdose Awareness Day, are displayed in the Downtown Eastside of Vancouver, on Tuesday, August 31, 2021. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck
A man waits to enter the Safeworks supervised consumption site at the Sheldon M. Chumir Health Centre in Calgary, Alta., Thursday, Aug. 26, 2021.THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jeff McIntosh

Alberta in talks to open overdose prevention sites

New operations in Clagary and Edmonton expected to replace Calgary’s only supervised consumption site

A man waits to enter the Safeworks supervised consumption site at the Sheldon M. Chumir Health Centre in Calgary, Alta., Thursday, Aug. 26, 2021.THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jeff McIntosh
Paramedics responded to spike in overdose calls in Vernon, Salmon Arm in 2021, a trend seen across B.C. (File photo)

Overdose calls to paramedics spike in Vernon, Salmon Arm in 2021

B.C.-wide calls increase by 30%, smaller communities in North Okanagan-Shuswap see steadier totals

Paramedics responded to spike in overdose calls in Vernon, Salmon Arm in 2021, a trend seen across B.C. (File photo)
Paramedics and firefighters, along with police, help with an overdose last year in Penticton. (File photo)

5 fatal overdoses in 2 months brings total to 15 deaths in Penticton this year

The 5 recent overdose deaths occurred in May and June

Paramedics and firefighters, along with police, help with an overdose last year in Penticton. (File photo)
have created the city’s first unsanctioned public overdose prevention site using an old wine-tour bus. The site began operations in June 2021. (Desiree Franz/Facebook)

Penticton Overdose Prevention Society looks to raise funds to stay operational

The society hopes to raise $2,000 through a GoFundMe

have created the city’s first unsanctioned public overdose prevention site using an old wine-tour bus. The site began operations in June 2021. (Desiree Franz/Facebook)
A man prepares heroin to be injected at the Insite safe injection clinic in Vancouver on May 11, 2011. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck

Urgent need in Alberta to address potent drug supply, overdose crisis: health experts

More than 105 people died each month from drug poisoning between May 2020 and April 2021

A man prepares heroin to be injected at the Insite safe injection clinic in Vancouver on May 11, 2011. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck
A protester gathers containers depicting OxyContin prescription pill bottles. (AP/Patrick Semansky)

Returning unused prescriptions to B.C. pharmacies could help prevent overdoses

New HPSA survey shows 1 in 3 Canadians do not know how to safely dispose of old, unused medications

A protester gathers containers depicting OxyContin prescription pill bottles. (AP/Patrick Semansky)
Nathan Watts, a member of the Tseshaht First Nation near Port Alberni, shares his story of substance use, a perspective he said isn’t seen enough. (Photo courtesy of Nathan Watts)

Public shaming, hate perpetuates further substance use: UVic researcher

Longtime addict Nathan Watts offers a user’s perspective on substance use

Nathan Watts, a member of the Tseshaht First Nation near Port Alberni, shares his story of substance use, a perspective he said isn’t seen enough. (Photo courtesy of Nathan Watts)
(Black Press file photo).

14-year-old B.C. teen lost to suspected overdose

RCMP and BC Coroners Service investigating

  • May 31, 2021
(Black Press file photo).
Paramedics responded to 316 overdose calls in Vernon in 2020, representing a 28 per cent rise over 2019, according to BC Emergency Health Services data. (Brendan Shykora - Morning Star)

Overdose calls in Vernon rose nearly 30 per cent in 2020

Meanwhile, Lake Country’s overdose calls roughly doubled last year over 2019.

Paramedics responded to 316 overdose calls in Vernon in 2020, representing a 28 per cent rise over 2019, according to BC Emergency Health Services data. (Brendan Shykora - Morning Star)
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