National

B.C. coroner to release report on overdose deaths

Darpan News Desk The Canadian Press, 09 Mar, 2022 10:47 AM

VICTORIA - A report by a death review panel investigating the overdose crisis in British Columbia was scheduled to be released today by the province's chief coroner.

A statement from the coroner's office says the panel reviewed 6,000 deaths from toxic illicit drugs between 2017 and 2021.

There were 2,224 suspected overdose deaths in the province last year, which was a 26 per cent jump over the previous year.

B.C. declared a public health emergency in 2016 when the powerful opioid fentanyl created a surge in deaths.

Chief coroner Lisa Lapointe has called for more access to safe supplies of drugs as well as the expansion of treatment and recovery programs.

A similar review released in 2018 made recommendations to increase treatment and recovery programs, expand programs offering prescription medication to those who are addicted and more testing of illicit drugs.

The number of deaths started to decline in 2019, but officials have said it spiked again during the COVID-19 pandemic as more people were isolated in their homes and the supply of illicit drugs grew more toxic.

Prev Next

MORE National ARTICLES

COVID disrupted needed health care: survey

The findings released Tuesday are based on the responses of 25,268 adults in 10 provinces — including 6,517 Indigenous individuals — to a survey last spring about the pandemic's impacts on health care.

COVID disrupted needed health care: survey

B.C. set to roll out child vaccines next week

Provincial health officer Dr. Bonnie Henry says up to 350,000 children will be eligible for the vaccine and more than 90,000 kids are already registered.

B.C. set to roll out child vaccines next week

GG inherits centuries of throne speech tradition

Delivered in the Senate, the ceremony surrounding the opening of Parliament hearkens back to a struggle in 1642 in the English House of Commons between an unpopular King and his MPs.

GG inherits centuries of throne speech tradition

Need to prepare for more extreme weather: Blair

Blair says it's still too early to estimate how much it will cost to fix all the damage caused by the atmospheric river that hit B.C. earlier this month. The storm dropped nearly 300 mm of rain on some communities in southern B.C. in less than two days, washing out major highways and rail lines, and triggering mudslides that killed at least four people.

Need to prepare for more extreme weather: Blair

Ottawa clarifies flood rules on B.C.-U.S. border

The federal minister of emergency preparedness says border guards have been advised that British Columbia residents can cross into the United States for essential supplies because of flooding in the province after some were reportedly facing fines or told they would have to quarantine on returning to Canada.

Ottawa clarifies flood rules on B.C.-U.S. border

Nearly half of Canadians to hug at holidays: poll

The poll by Leger in collaboration with The Canadian Press found that 45 per cent of Canadians say they will "greet others with a handshake, hug or kiss" at Christmas parties and other holiday gatherings.