Field of 50,000 flags marks grim death toll from Canada’s opioid crisis

Field of 50,000 flags marks grim death toll from Canada’s opioid crisis

50,000 flags are planted near the Tyee Spit in Campbell River, B.C. to mark the 36,000 men who have died of opioid overdoses in the nine years since the province decalred it a provincial health crisis. Purple flags represent the 14,000 women who have also lost their lives.

Toxic drug deaths highly personal — and political — as B.C. marks 9 years since public health emergency began

While the crisis is intensely personal for those who have lost people they care about — children, parents, partners, grandparents, cousins, aunts, uncles, friends, co-workers — it's also become a point of political tension, as leaders try to figure out the best way to address toxic drug deaths in B.C. and beyond.

Protests, marches and memories: B.C.’s toxic drug crisis emergency marks 9 years

B.C. Health Minister Josie Osborne and provincial health officer Dr. Bonnie Henry issued a joint statement marking the sombre anniversary.

Cranbrook advocates mark 9th anniversary of toxic drug crisis

Advocates in Cranbrook marked the ninth anniversary of a public health emergency in response to the toxic drug supply

Somber rally marks 9 years of B.C.'s toxic drug crisis public health emergency

Families, friends and advocates gathered on the steps of the B.C. Legislature Monday to mark a somber anniversary in the province’s toxic drug crisis. On April 14, 2016, the province declared the toxic drug crisis a public health emergency. Advocates say over the past nine years, the province has not treated the crisis like an emergency. “Sixteen thousand people have died since that declaration,” Leslie McBain, with Mom’s Stop the Harm, said. “S…

Toxic drug deaths highly personal and political as B.C. marks 9 years since public health emergency began #Canadian #Canada #CanadaNewsToday #CanadianHealthcare #CanadianLife

Nine years ago, former B.C. provincial health officer Dr. Perry Kendall declared a public health emergency in response to a sharp increase in deaths related to toxic drugs and drug overdoses.  Overdose deaths had been climbing steadily since 2010; the 474 deaths in 2015 were a 30 per cent increase from the year before. Those annual numbers kept climbing, peaking at more than 2,500 deaths in 2023.  More than 16,000 people have died as a result of…