The latest news articles featuring BC Centre on Substance Use.
Toxic-drug deaths in B.C. hit record high last year, coroner says
January 24, 2024 | Times Colonist
A record 2,511 people died of suspected toxic-drug overdoses last year, the highest annual toll ever recorded — and almost one-fifth were from Vancouver Island. The death toll had dipped in 2019 to fewer than 1,000 deaths, but spiked back up to more than 2,300 two years later. B.C. chief coroner L...
Rally Supports Vancouver Compassion Club Providing Tested Drugs
January 17, 2024 | The Tyee
Around 400 people gathered at the Vancouver courthouse Tuesday to support Eris Nyx and Jeremy Kalicum, co-founders of the Drug User Liberation Front. The pair were scheduled to make their first court appearance after their October arrests. But they didn’t end up getting their day in court. Instead...
‘Safe Supply’ of Rx Opioids Saved Lives in British Columbia
January 16, 2024 | Pain News Network
Prescribing opioids and other medications to people with substance use disorders significantly reduces their risk of dying, according to a large new study in British Columbia. The findings add weight to efforts to create a “safe supply” of legal medications for patients at risk of an overdose f...
Prescribing safer alternatives to potentially deadly street drugs saved lives: B.C. study
January 11, 2024 | Vancouver Is Awesome
VANCOUVER — Researchers in British Columbia have published a study that suggests prescription opioids prevent overdose deaths among people with an addiction to potentially toxic street drugs. They found that those who were prescribed at least one day’s supply of opioids were 55 per cent less...
Drug users, advocates issue warning about xylazine
January 09, 2024 | Fort Frances Times
It took only one puff of drugs cut with xylazine to knock the tall, solidly built William Bernier out for an hour. Bernier, who didn’t know he was taking xylazine, was alarmed by the sudden powerful rush despite having more than a decade’s worth of experience using drugs. First, he felt like he ...
