Close X
Sunday, November 24, 2024
ADVT 
National

Illicit drug deaths in B.C. climbed in January

Darpan News Desk The Canadian Press, 11 Mar, 2022 01:03 PM
  • Illicit drug deaths in B.C. climbed in January

VICTORIA - The British Columbia Coroners Service says at least 207 people died because of toxic illicit drugs in January.

Chief coroner Lisa Lapointe says in a statement the figure is the third-highest toll recorded in a calendar month since a public health emergency was declared in 2016.

The statement says the death rate remains high throughout B.C., but highlights what it says are notable increases in fatalities in small and medium-sized communities.

Eleven of the deaths in January happened in Kamloops, which the service says made it the third-most affected city in B.C. behind only Vancouver and Surrey.

The coroner's service says illicit drugs caused 19 deaths in Northern Health, equal to a death rate of 74.5 per 100,000 residents, by far the highest rate of any health authority.

The coroner also says nearly one-quarter of the drug samples tested between November and January showed extreme levels of fentanyl, almost double the number of highly toxic samples found in the previous 18 months.

Lapointe says the rising toxicity of the illicit drug supply and the vulnerability of users is well known, but there is a way forward.

"Ensuring access to safer supply, establishing a substance use system of care, and turning the focus away from punishing and stigmatizing are critical steps to resolving this public health emergency," Lapointe says in the statement.

A report released this week examined 6,007 overdose deaths in B.C. and called on the province to urgently develop a policy to distribute a safer supply of drugs and offer better health supports through a plan that would see action taken over 30, 60 and 90 days

In response, Premier John Horgan said his government has been doing its best to tackle the overdose crisis, but he believed it was too early to commit to the recommendations.

MORE National ARTICLES

Trudeau, NATO stage rebuke of Russia in Latvia

Trudeau, NATO stage rebuke of Russia in Latvia
The prime minister promised Baltic leaders on a whirlwind trip to Latvia that Canada will stand with them to fight Russia's military aggression against Ukraine and its cyberattacks on their countries.

Trudeau, NATO stage rebuke of Russia in Latvia

Feds fine passengers on Sunwing party flight

Feds fine passengers on Sunwing party flight
A half-dozen passengers who were not fully vaccinated when they boarded have now received penalties that could reach a maximum of $5,000 each, Transport Canada said. Under COVID-19 rules, all passengers must be fully vaccinated to board a flight departing the country.

Feds fine passengers on Sunwing party flight

B.C. promises blanket internet coverage by 2027

B.C. promises blanket internet coverage by 2027
In a news release, the province says the plan means many First Nations communities will have high-speed internet access for the first time. B.C. is promising that every home and community will have the service by 2027, which was also promised in the budget announced last month. 

B.C. promises blanket internet coverage by 2027

B.C. adds conditions for Trans Mountain expansion

B.C. adds conditions for Trans Mountain expansion
The expansion is set to nearly triple the capacity of the existing 1,150-kilometre pipeline that carries 300,000 barrels per day of petroleum products from Alberta to B.C., which will significantly increase the number of tankers carrying oil for export.

B.C. adds conditions for Trans Mountain expansion

B.C. shifts vaccination order for health workers

B.C. shifts vaccination order for health workers
The new order differs from last month's announcement when provincial health officer Dr. Bonnie Henry said all regulated health professionals vaccinated with one dose before March 24 could continue to work only if they received a second dose within 35 days.

B.C. shifts vaccination order for health workers

Ukraine attack sparks fear of global food shortage

Ukraine attack sparks fear of global food shortage
Ukraine is one of the world's major wheat exporters and since Russia's attack, global wheat prices have risen to levels not seen since 2008. Sandra McCardell, an assistant deputy minister at Global Affairs Canada, told a Senate committee last week that there will be “a wide range of fallout” from Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

Ukraine attack sparks fear of global food shortage