Latest news with #toxicdrugs
CBC
an hour ago
- Health
- CBC
Toxic drug deaths in B.C. down in May, June, coroner says
Social Sharing The number of deaths due to toxic drugs fell to below 150 people per month for May and June in British Columbia, according to B.C.'s coroner, a downward trend from the same months last year. The B.C. Coroners Service says in its latest report that the province recorded 145 deaths in May compared with 181 for the same month last year. There were 147 overdose deaths in June, down from 185 the year before. The coroner says 69 per cent of the drug-toxicity deaths in 2025 are adult men between the ages of 30 and 59, and 78 per cent of all deaths this year have been men. The statistics show that the opioid fentanyl is the most common substance detected in those who died this year, followed by methamphetamine and cocaine. The report also says that the presence of carfentanil — an opioid considered to be 100 times more powerful than fentanyl — in toxic drug deaths is increasing compared to 2024. Nearly half of the deaths so far this year have happened in a private residence, while 20.5 per cent happened outside. Smoking continues to be the most common mode of consumption in toxic drug deaths, with 64 per cent of investigations indicating the person who died smoked their substances, the statement says The highest toxic drugs death rate this year is in the Northern Health region with 44 deaths per 100,000 people, and the cities with the highest tolls are Vancouver, Surrey and Greater Victoria. Occupations The B.C. Coroners Service and provincial government have also released the occupations of those who died from 2022 to 2024. The two most common job categories are trades and sales. More specifically, those employed in trades, transport and equipment operation account for 21 per cent of deaths on average, and people employed in the sales and service sector account for 10 per cent. However, in 55 per cent of toxic drug deaths over those three years, the individual's occupation was unknown. Trades are known to have higher-than-average rates of substance use, so much so that the Construction Foundation of B.C. is launching a new mental health initiative to address the struggles faced by people, often men, in that industry. John Oliffe, the Canada Research Chair in men's health promotion at University of British Columbia, has said long shifts and physically demanding work may contribute to recreational drug use and self-medicating with substances.
CTV News
3 hours ago
- Health
- CTV News
Toxic drug deaths in B.C. down in May, June, coroner says
People take part in a rally in Victoria, B.C., on April 14, 2022. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Chad Hipolito The number of deaths due to toxic drugs fell to below 150 people per month for May and June in British Columbia, a downward trend from the same months last year. The BC Coroners Service says in a statement that the province recorded 145 deaths in May compared with 181 for the same month last year. There were 147 overdose deaths in June, down from 185 the year before. The BC Coroners Service and government have also started releasing the occupation of those who died, and the two most common jobs are trades, transport and equipment operation, as well as sales and service. The statement says 69 per cent of the drug-toxicity deaths are adult men between the ages of 30 and 59, while 78 per cent of all deaths are male. The statistics show that the opioid fentanyl is the most common substance detected in those who died this year, followed by methamphetamine and cocaine. 'Forty-seven per cent of deaths reported occurred in a private residence, compared with 21 per cent outdoors,' the statement says. Smoking continues to be the primary mode of consumption of unregulated toxic drugs, with 64 per cent of investigations indicating the person who died smoked their substances, the statement says The highest toxic drugs death rate this year is in the Northern Health region with 44 deaths per 100,000 people, and the cities with the highest tolls are Vancouver, Surrey and Greater Victoria. This report by The Canadian Press was first published July 31, 2025.
The Sun
6 days ago
- The Sun
Laughing gas ‘epidemic' sweeping party island with tourists left foaming at mouth, having seizures & permanently scarred
BRIT tourists have been suffering seizures, foaming at the mouth and left permanently scarred after inhaling toxic drugs on the streets of Ibiza. Armed with industrial-sized canisters of nitrous oxide, determined dealers roam the infamous San Antonio party strip - targeting Brits as "easy prey". 9 9 9 But the Class C drug can cause a range of health issues - and in some cases can even be fatal. In the UK, the gas is most commonly sold in small canisters which deliver a single dose - enough to fill one balloon. But dealers in San Antonio are armed with huge canisters that pump out up to 80 hits - and come in boxes of six. At the going rate of five euros a balloon, the street value of a six-pack of canisters is around £2,000 - and they're strewn across the town. When The Sun visited the notorious strip, our reporter was hounded and followed down the street by dealers. Katie Mae, a bartender at Irish pub Shenanigans on the town's main strip, said laughing gas is 'the worst of them all'. The 21-year-old told The Sun: "I'll lecture anyone I see taking it - I've seen the worst things from laughing gas. 'I've seen young lads having seizures on the street and foaming at the mouths, but their friends are high so do nothing to help. 'One girl I saw inhaled gas straight from the canister, and it froze one side of her face. "It was all cut up and she would have been scarred for life." After working on the strip for three seasons, Katie said: 'The consequences aren't talked about anywhere near enough. "People don't take it seriously as a drug - but it's one of the worst." One British bar worker living in San Antonio told us she used to sell laughing gas here, but stopped after one of her customers 'nearly died'. The Brit said she got 'freaked out' when a young lad fell backwards and smashed his head on the road in the midst of a balloon high. She told us: 'I used to sell laughing gas for about a year-and-a-half because it was easy money. 'You'd sell each balloon for five euros and buy the canisters for cheap. There's loads of shops around here that sell them. 'But as soon as that happened I stopped. It really freaked me out. 'And the gas is not good stuff - it freezes your insides.' Nitrous oxide - the facts NITROUS oxide - also known as laughing gas or hippy crack - was recently made a Class C due to the dangers associated with the drug. It can cause a range of health issues and in some cases can even be fatal. Some common side effects from inhaling the gas are dizziness, nausea, disorientation, loss of balance and weakness in legs, according to a study on its risks published to the National Library of Medicine. Nitrous oxide can impair memory and thinking, the research mentioned. Some users might also feel anxious or paranoid. According to the Alcohol and Drug Foundation (ADF), the gas from nitrous oxide bulbs is intensely cold, sometimes as low as minus 40 degrees Celsius. Inhaling directly from the canister or crackers - handheld devices used to 'crack' open canister - can cause frostbite on the nose, lips and throat, even the vocal cords. The icy chill of the gas canisters can also cause cold burns to the hands. Long term, heavy use of laughing gas can cause a lack of vitamin B12. Severe deficiency can lead to serious nerve damage, causing tingling and numbness in the fingers and toes. Lack of B12 can also cause damage to the spinal cord. In some cases, frequent and prolonged use of nitrous oxide has been linked to thromboembolic events - this means a blood clot has gotten stuck and caused an obstruction. The so-called laughing gas has also resulted in deaths. Another Brit staff member at the bar described the situation as an "epidemic". The streets around San Antonio's so-called West End, which includes the main strip and most of the bars, are littered with brightly-coloured rubber confetti. Angelica Giraldo, a shopworker at Xanadu Supermarket near the strip, said the mess left behind by party-goers has ruined certain areas. She said: 'Lots of the tourists who come to San Antonio seem just to want to take drugs and to party rather than enjoy the island. 'I don't really see the other stuff - but the rubbish from the balloons is very clear. You see them all over the road, it's very ugly.' Angelica, 40, has lived in Ibiza all her life and noticed a sharp rise in laughing gas in recent years. She said: 'It is everywhere now. And it causes lots of accidents. 'People take it while driving, but it makes them go crazy and they crash. This happens a lot.' Selling the gas for recreational use is illegal in Spain - but that doesn't stop a crew of drug dealers openly pushing it every night. 9 9 9 Walking around the West End, tourists are hounded constantly by - and see youngsters as an easy sell. The dealers loiter amongst the outdoor bar seating and persistently hassle drinkers to encourage them to buy balloons - and many do. Bartender Katie claimed the dealers have an app to alert each other if police are patrolling a certain area. On one occasion, The Sun saw Civil Guards officers walking down the strip with a confiscated canister, and another cop was seen searching a young man for drugs. The Sun approached cops on the street - but they all refused to talk about the issue. While laughing gas is the most obvious drug in San Antonio due to the brightly-coloured balloons, almost any party drug you can think of is readily available. 9 9 9 Walking along the sea-front, dealers call out "hey, dude, yo, what do you need?' to almost every passerby. Anything other than a stern refusal sees them opening up a pouch stuffed full of drugs, and flashing you bags of coloured powders or pills. Ricardo, who runs Jungle Bistró Ibiza in the old town district with his wife, said he is glad that most of the anti-social behaviour is limited to San Antonio's West End. And he said it is 'easy' for the dealers to sell to young Brits. The restaurant manager said: 'A lot of them are British, they come to San Antonio just for the parties. 'It is easy to sell to them. I don't want any of that over in this part of town. We mainly have families around here' San Antonio Town Council said: "The process is also underway to incorporate ten new officers into the Local Police force, increasing its staff from 59 to 69. "This will ensure a more effective service tailored to the municipality's current needs. "A new position of intrusion and community coexistence officer has also been created, and a private security service will be put out to tender with the aim of reducing vandalism and uncivil behaviour in selected areas. "The City Council is fully aware that these are only the first steps in a broader transformation process and that there is still a long way to go. "Therefore, it remains steadfast in its commitment to continue working to build a better Sant Antoni for everyone, supporting a tourism model that prioritizes quality, sustainability, and coexistence."
CTV News
08-07-2025
- Health
- CTV News
Interior Health issues region-wide drug advisory for toxic, synthetic opioid
Interior Health has issued a drug advisory for all municipalities within its boundaries. Interior Health has issued a drug advisory warning of a toxic drug circulating within its boundaries. According to a release from the health authority Monday, an increase in the detection of carfentanil, a synthetic opioid approximately 100 times more potent than fentanyl, has been noted in Down (opioid) samples over the past month. Alongside the carfentanil, the samples also frequently contained benzodiazepines and tranquilizers, the health authority said. The combination of opioids with these substances amplify the effects of the drugs and significantly heightens the risk of overdose and death. The health authority said if drugs are going to be used they should be checked first, regardless of how they are administered. Checking sites are available to be viewed online. Interior Health covers a large area in B.C. and spans 59 incorporated municipalities, stretching from the U.S. border in the south to Williams Lake in the north, and from Lytton in the west to the Alberta border in the east.
CBC
25-06-2025
- Health
- CBC
April sees increase in toxic drug deaths in B.C., as coroner reports 165 fatalities
Social Sharing The B.C. Coroners Service says April was the first time in six months that more than 160 deaths were recorded due to toxic drugs. It said in a statement that 165 people died in April, up from 143 deaths in March and 132 fatalities in February. The February and March numbers represented year-over-year declines of more than 30 per cent compared with the same months in 2024, while April's total amounted to a lesser decrease of about 14 per cent. The statement released Tuesday says deaths in the Fraser and Vancouver Coastal health authorities make up 57 per cent of fatalities so far this year. It says fentanyl continues to be the most common substance linked to deaths and smoking is the primary mode of consumption of unregulated toxic drugs. While Fraser and Vancouver Coastal health authorities have the larger number of deaths, the Northern and Interior health regions have seen the highest per-capita rates of death so far in 2025. The B.C. Green caucus issued a statement Tuesday noting that a growing number of drug deaths occurred outdoors, 21 per cent so far this year, compared with 15 per cent in 2022. "This report underscores the widening gaps in care, housing, and access to life-saving services," said interim Green Leader Jeremy Valeriote in the statement. "The ongoing loss of life is not inevitable — it's a consequence of political choices." The Greens are asking the province to provide a regulated alternative to the toxic drug supply, supervised consumption services that are accessible, and timely treatment for those who need it. New service standards for OPSes Earlier this month, the province released new minimum service standards for all community-based overdose prevention sites (OPS) that receive public funding and all in-hospital sites, laying out a baseline of how they should be operated. The province says there are nine OPSes at hospitals in B.C. It says the service standards are not intended to identify where more sites may be needed, but noted that health-care authorities have been told the requirements for creating new ones. The province says there had been more than 5.6 million visits to OPSes since January 2017, and the services had prevented more than 12,400 overdose deaths since 2019. "Overdose prevention services are critical in saving thousands of lives, connecting people to treatment and reducing public drug use," said Health Minister Josie Osborne in a ministry statement. Doctors for Safer Drug Policy, an advocacy group consisting of physicians who care for drug users, said it was cautiously optimistic over the new standards. The group has been involved with setting up an unsanctioned overdose prevention site at the Nanaimo Regional Hospital, as well as other pop-up sites at hospitals on Vancouver Island. The group's co-founder, Dr. Ryan Herriot, says they agree with the government that the services save lives and reduce public drug use — but Herriot says he has concerns with whether the new standards will mean drawn-out consultation processes for new sites. "Even if these processes are well-intentioned and well-designed, there is the possibility of further slowing things down, which, again, given that it's an emergency, is not ideal," Herriot said in a statement.
