Close X
Sunday, September 22, 2024
ADVT 
National

150 overdose deaths in October

Darpan News Desk The Canadian Press, 30 Nov, 2023 03:31 PM
  • 150 overdose deaths in October

British Columbia's coroner says the toxic and unregulated drug supply has claimed more than 2,000 lives in the province in the first ten months of this year. 

A statement from the coroners' service says in October alone 189 people died from overdoses, which is more than six deaths a day.

It is also the 37th consecutive month where at least 150 people died from illicit overdoses. 

The service says more than 13,300 people have died because of poisoned drugs since the crisis was declared in April 2016.

Jennifer Whiteside, minister of mental health and addictions, says in a statement that they recognize the depth of grief the figures represent, and her government continues to work urgently to provide access to effective care.

The corner says males make up more than three-quarters of the 2023 death toll, about seven of every 10 people who died this year were between 30 and 59 years old and overdose is the leading cause of death in B.C. for those aged 10 to 59. 

MORE National ARTICLES

Students head back to school as heat warnings blanket Central Canada

Students head back to school as heat warnings blanket Central Canada
The government of British Columbia has said no schools were damaged by the fires that tore through parts of the province, but that doesn't mean students will be unaffected.  The flames passed close by some schools in Kelowna, B.C., leaving destruction in their wake. 

Students head back to school as heat warnings blanket Central Canada

Weekend weather in central B.C. causes 'very aggressive' fire activity

Weekend weather in central B.C. causes 'very aggressive' fire activity
British Columbia's wildfire service says long weekend weather conditions caused "very aggressive fire activity" on several active blazes in the province's central fire zone. The service says the area covering the Vanderhoof and Fort St. James fire zone saw less humidity than expected, coupled with hot temperatures and strong winds over the long weekend. 

Weekend weather in central B.C. causes 'very aggressive' fire activity

Political pressure to stop rate hikes now coming from premiers, as BoC decision nears

Political pressure to stop rate hikes now coming from premiers, as BoC decision nears
Two premiers have sent letters to Bank of Canada governor Tiff Macklem urging the central bank to halt rate hikes ahead of its next rate decision tomorrow. Ontario Premier Doug Ford sent a letter on Sunday saying families and businesses cannot afford the "crushing impact of further rate hikes," echoing a letter British Columbia Premier David Eby sent on Thursday.

Political pressure to stop rate hikes now coming from premiers, as BoC decision nears

Shooting in Port Alberni

Shooting in Port Alberni
A man is in hospital and police are looking for a suspect vehicle after a shooting in Port Alberni. The R-C-M-P say it happened earlier today in a city back alley, leaving the victim with non-life-threatening injuries.

Shooting in Port Alberni

B.C. prison announces $287,000 seizure of contraband, from cellphones to steroids

B.C. prison announces $287,000 seizure of contraband, from cellphones to steroids
Prison officials in British Columbia say they've seized a large stash of contraband, including steroids and cellphones, smuggled into a maximum security institution outside Vancouver last week. Kim MacPherson, an assistant warden at Kent Institution, says the seizure was made on Aug. 24 thanks to staff vigilance. 

B.C. prison announces $287,000 seizure of contraband, from cellphones to steroids

Will updated COVID vaccines work against latest variant? Canadian scientists monitor global research

Will updated COVID vaccines work against latest variant? Canadian scientists monitor global research
Canada's first known case of the Omicron variant BA.2.86 was detected this week in British Columbia as the country became the seventh in the world to report its presence. Health Canada is currently reviewing applications for Moderna and Pfizer-BioNTech's new mRNA vaccines, developed against the dominant XBB.1.5 variant ahead of a vaccination campaign set for the fall.  

Will updated COVID vaccines work against latest variant? Canadian scientists monitor global research