overdose

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

 

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

 

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

 

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 respond to a drug-related call at the Abbotsford Community Hub on Feb. 9, during an event to highlight the increasing number of overdoses in the area. (Jessica Peters/ Abbotsford News)

Fraser Health issues alert in Surrey and Abbotsford as overdoses spike

Health agency lists tips for safer consumption as increase continues

Paramedics respond to a drug-related call at the Abbotsford Community Hub on Feb. 9, during an event to highlight the increasing number of overdoses in the area. (Jessica Peters/ Abbotsford News)
Paramedics work to revive someone from an apparent drug overdose in Chilliwack, on June 16, 2017. That year paramedics responded to 487 overdose calls. In 2021, that was up 69% to 821. (Paul Henderson/Chilliwack Progress File)

Chilliwack paramedics receive record number of overdose calls in 2021, up 50% since 2020

Calls have nearly tripled since 2015, BCEHS says

Paramedics work to revive someone from an apparent drug overdose in Chilliwack, on June 16, 2017. That year paramedics responded to 487 overdose calls. In 2021, that was up 69% to 821. (Paul Henderson/Chilliwack Progress File)
Former Chilliwack drug user Mike K. speaks about his experience as an addict in the third part of The Hidden Crisis video series. (Justin Booth/ Dock Visual Media)

VIDEO: ‘My experience with cocaine was a real dark place,’ says former Chilliwack addict

Chilliwack man speaks about life when he was an addict as part of overdose prevention video series

Former Chilliwack drug user Mike K. speaks about his experience as an addict in the third part of The Hidden Crisis video series. (Justin Booth/ Dock Visual Media)
An event in Mission today (Aug. 31, 2021) will offer Naloxone training, as part of International Overdose Awareness Day. (Jenna Hauck/The Progress file photo)

Overdose awareness events in Abbotsford and Mission offer remembrance ceremonies

Naloxone training, resources, community walks and more offered to the public

An event in Mission today (Aug. 31, 2021) will offer Naloxone training, as part of International Overdose Awareness Day. (Jenna Hauck/The Progress file photo)
Paramedics work to revive someone from an apparent drug overdose on Yale Road near the Chilliwack Law Courts in 2017. (Paul Henderson/ Chilliwack Progress File)

RCMP and hospital staff warn of bad batch of illicit drugs on Chilliwack streets

CGH sees ‘significant increase’ in serious overdoses on what is known as ‘Welfare Wednesday’

Paramedics work to revive someone from an apparent drug overdose on Yale Road near the Chilliwack Law Courts in 2017. (Paul Henderson/ Chilliwack Progress File)
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).
FILE – Linda Mantel with Glide Harm Reduction shows a strip that determines whether fentanyl is in a user’s heroin at a safe injection site simulation at Glide Memorial Church’s Freedom Hall on Wednesday, Aug. 29, 2018. (Kevin N. Hume/S.F. Examiner)

B.C. paramedics respond to record overdose calls in 24-hour period for 2nd month in a row

BC Emergency Health Services says frontline workers responded to 146 overdose patients

FILE – Linda Mantel with Glide Harm Reduction shows a strip that determines whether fentanyl is in a user’s heroin at a safe injection site simulation at Glide Memorial Church’s Freedom Hall on Wednesday, Aug. 29, 2018. (Kevin N. Hume/S.F. Examiner)
Allayah Yoli Thomas had recently turned 12 years old when she died of a suspected drug overdose April 15. (Courtesy of Adriana Londono)

Suspected overdose death of Vancouver Island 12 year old speaks to lack of supports

Allayah Yoli Thomas was found dead by her friend the morning of April 15

Allayah Yoli Thomas had recently turned 12 years old when she died of a suspected drug overdose April 15. (Courtesy of Adriana Londono)
Paramedics work to revive someone from an apparent drug overdose in Chilliwack in 2017. (Paul Henderson/ Chilliwack Progress File)

Fraser Health issues overdose alert in Chilliwack

Overdoses have increased over past 24 hours, possibly due to benzodiazepine in fentanyl

Paramedics work to revive someone from an apparent drug overdose in Chilliwack in 2017. (Paul Henderson/ Chilliwack Progress File)
Pop-up banner image