The TyeeFeb 17

After seven months, seven #FOI requests and two Office of the Information and Privacy Commissioner complaints, The Tyee is no closer to a strong understanding of how many people are surviving overdoses as patients in B.C. hospitals.

Michelle Gamage reports. #bcpoli #ToxicDrugCrisis

https://thetyee.ca/News/2026/02/17/How-Many-People-Overdosing-BC-Hospitals/?utm_source=mastodon&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=editorial

How Many People Are Overdosing at BC’s Hospitals? | The Tyee

That data is key to knowing where supervised consumption sites are needed. The government won’t release it.

The Tyee
The TyeeFeb 3
Former chief coroner Lisa Lapointe recently criticized B.C.’s drug policies, saying the province’s approach to the ongoing #ToxicDrugCrisis is not evidence-based. Michelle Gamage reports. #bcpoli https://thetyee.ca/News/2026/02/03/BC-Drug-Response-Former-Coroner/?utm_source=mastodon&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=editorial
BC’s Drug Response Isn’t Following the Evidence: Former Coroner | The Tyee

The province is neglecting safer supply and housing, which are proven to reduce harms, says Lisa Lapointe.

The Tyee
The TyeeFeb 3
Former chief coroner Lisa Lapointe recently criticized B.C.’s drug policies, saying the province’s approach to the ongoing #ToxicDrugCrisis is not evidence-based. @[email protected] reports. #bcpoli

BC’s Drug Response Isn’t Follo...
BC’s Drug Response Isn’t Following the Evidence: Former Coroner | The Tyee

The province is neglecting safer supply and housing, which are proven to reduce harms, says Lisa Lapointe.

The Tyee
The TyeeNov 6

Saving a life is more important than policing small amounts of drug use, the Supreme Court of Canada ruled last month.

Michelle Gamage reports. #ToxicDrugCrisis #canpoli

https://thetyee.ca/News/2025/11/06/Supreme-Court-Wants-You-Call-911-Someone-Overdosing/?utm_source=mastodon&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=editorial

The Supreme Court of Canada Wants You to Call 911 if Someone Is Overdosing | The Tyee

Police can’t arrest a person for drug possession if they call for help and stick around, a new ruling finds.

The Tyee
The TyeeNov 6
Saving a life is more important than policing small amounts of drug use, the Supreme Court of Canada ruled last month. @michellegamage.bsky.social reports. #canpoli #ToxicDrugCrisis

The Supreme Court of Canada Wa...
The Supreme Court of Canada Wants You to Call 911 if Someone Is Overdosing | The Tyee

Police can’t arrest a person for drug possession if they call for help and stick around, a new ruling finds.

The Tyee
Ms. Que BanhSep 18, 2024

At least a third of the publicly funded #AddictionTreatment beds #BCgovernment claims are available for drug users across #BritishColumbia do not actually offer treatment, the #IJF has learned.

“B.C. now has 3,645 publicly funded substance-use treatment beds, including 659 beds opened since 2017 with more to come,” the Ministry of Mental Health and Addictions announced in an Aug. 27 press release.

But a breakdown of the available types of adult and youth treatment options provided by the ministry shows that its tally includes 1,232 low-barrier housing beds, accounting for about 34 per cent of the total.

#Addictions treatment is not directly provided in low-barrier housing in B.C., but is part of “a full continuum of support services,” the ministry said in an email to the IJF. This type of facility simply makes shelter available to people who use drugs, without requiring them to abstain or be in treatment.

The news comes as both the #BCConservatives and the #BCNDP government are touting #involuntary addiction care as a solution to the province’s ongoing #ToxicDrugCrisis.

That #political focus is deeply frustrating for Correne Antrobus of #MomsStopTheHarm, an advocacy group led by families affected by tainted illegal drugs.

https://theijf.org/bc-publicly-funded-addiction-treatment-low-barrier-housing

#BCpoli #Medical #PublicHealth #HarmfulPolicy #Cruelty #HumanRights #MentalHealth #AddictionsStigma #MentalIllnessStigma #BreakTheSitgmas #HelpNotHarm #BCNewDeathParty #BCNDPLegacyoOfDeath #FundMentalWellness #FundSocialHousing #NeverVoteConservative #NeverVoteNeoliberal #BCElection2024 #BCVotes2024 #BCelection #CDNpoli

One third of B.C.’s ‘publicly funded substance-use treatment beds’ don’t provide any treatment

Victoria advocate ‘furious’ to learn province includes low-barrier housing in its total

Investigative Journalism Foundation
The TyeeAug 16, 2024

School-based interventions hold the potential to save lives from the #ToxicDrugCrisis, researchers say. 🎒

https://thetyee.ca/Analysis/2024/08/16/Programs-Youth-Toxic-Drug-Deaths/?utm_source=mastodon&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=editorial

How Programs for Youth Could Stem the Tide of Toxic Drug Deaths | The Tyee

School-based interventions hold the potential to save lives, researchers say.

The Tyee
Global NewsApr 13, 2024
B.C. First Nation declares local state of emergency due to deaths from toxic drugs
The Tŝilhqot’in National Government declared an emergency for all six Tŝilhqot’in communities, which provided the Nation the opportunity to access additional government support.
#globalnews #Health #toxicdrugcrisis #Tsilhqot'inFirstNation #Tsilhqot'innationalgovernment
https://globalnews.ca/news/10421951/bc-first-nation-local-state-emergency-deaths-toxic-drugs/
B.C. First Nation declares local state of emergency due to deaths from toxic drugs

The Tŝilhqot’in National Government declared an emergency for all six Tŝilhqot’in communities, which provided the Nation the opportunity to access additional government support.

Global News
Global News BCApr 13, 2024
B.C. First Nation declares local state of emergency due to deaths from toxic drugs
The Tŝilhqot’in National Government declared an emergency for all six Tŝilhqot’in communities, which provided the Nation the opportunity to access additional government support.
#globalnews #Health #toxicdrugcrisis #Tsilhqot'inFirstNation #Tsilhqot'innationalgovernment
https://globalnews.ca/news/10421951/bc-first-nation-local-state-emergency-deaths-toxic-drugs/
B.C. First Nation declares local state of emergency due to deaths from toxic drugs

The Tŝilhqot’in National Government declared an emergency for all six Tŝilhqot’in communities, which provided the Nation the opportunity to access additional government support.

Global News
Global NewsApr 2, 2024
Alberta proposes new mental health and addiction agency as toxic drug deaths reach historic high
More than 1,700 people died from toxic drugs between January and November last year, making it the worst year since the province's substance use surveillance system was created.
#globalnews #Health #Alberta #OpioidCrisis #toxicdrugcrisis
https://globalnews.ca/news/10397388/alberta-new-mental-health-and-addictions-agency/
Alberta proposes new mental health and addiction agency as toxic drug deaths reach historic high

More than 1,700 people died from toxic drugs between January and November last year, making it the worst year since the province's substance use surveillance system was created.

Global News