US Edition18,000 lives later, B.C. marks 10 years since declaring overdose emergency
Officials say harm-reduction and treatment programs helped prevent 49,560 potential death events since 2019, even as five people still die each day.
- On Tuesday, April 14, 2026, British Columbia marked 10 years since declaring a public health emergency over the toxic drug crisis, which has killed more than 18,000 people across the province.
- Former provincial health officer Perry Kendall declared the emergency on April 14, 2016, in response to a surge in overdose deaths driven by illicit fentanyl; the unregulated drug supply has since claimed 600,000 lives across North America.
- Provincial health officer Dr. Bonnie Henry said Monday she was disappointed the province ended its decriminalization pilot, noting there was "absolutely" political pressure to stop the three-year trial.
- Health Minister Josie Osborne reported 1,826 toxic drug deaths in 2025, down from 2,315 in 2024, and promised the government will not "take our foot off the gas" on harm-reduction services.
- The Vancouver-based Canadian Drug Policy Coalition says the declaration's urgency has "ebbed away" as policymakers restrict evidence-based services, while community groups across British Columbia host memorial events demanding urgent action.
49 Articles
49 Articles
Nanaimo’s toxic drug emergency at 10 years
Hilary Nester, a social service worker student, burns a heart with a name of someone they were close to who died from the toxic drug crisis at a Grief Fire event at Vancouver Island University on April 14, 2026. Photo by Mick Sweetman / The Discourse. Ten years ago, on April 14, 2016, B.C.’s public health officer declared a public health emergency in the province following consecutive years of rising fatalities from illicit drugs. Since then, dr…
'Have we made any real dent?: Kelowna mom on decade of toxic drug emergency
A Kelowna woman who lost two sons to the toxic drug crisis has seen little improvement in the decade since it was declared a public health emergency in B.C. 'When we're still losing five people a day in British Columbia in 10 years, have we made any real dent in the problem?' asked Helen Jennens,...
B.C. declared toxic drugs a public health emergency 10 years ago. Has it made a difference?
Experts say they worry the province hasn’t used all the powers available that come with a public health emergency, and is leaning on public opinion rather than science to inform policy.
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