Here's a collection of our coverage of addiction-related issues, including Vancouver and B.C.'s opioid and overdose crisis, mental-health issues, various forms of addiction (including smoking, alcohol, sex, and gambling), harm reduction, treatment and therapies, and more.

For further coverage about mental-health issues, visit this webpage.

Commentary

Jean Swanson: City council to vote on motion urging federal exemption so Vancouver can offer safe drugs, reduce deaths

Oct 5

A Vancouver city councillor is thinking of the six precious humans who died each and every day during the last month for which overdose deaths were tracked.

Books

Benjamin Perrin and Gabor Maté discuss Canada's opioid crisis on September 15

Sep 7

The free event starts at 7 pm Pacific time.

Commentary

Sarah Leamon: Election could jeopardize legislation to scrap mandatory minimum sentences for drug offences

Jun 6

Supporters of Bill C-22 say it would help address systemic overrepresentation of minorities in court.

Health Notes

B.C. Coroners Service stats show that province is on track for another record-breaking year of illicit-drug overdose deaths

Jun 2

The April 2021 death total was 43 percent higher than the number of similar deaths in April 2020.

Commentary

Drug decriminalization without youth is not decriminalization

May 15

Vancouver has finally set its sight on drug decriminalization, recently making public the details of the proposed "Vancouver Model".

Movie Reviews

DOXA 2021: Elle-Máijá Tailfeathers's new doc examines how to achieve a paradigm shift in drug treatment

May 5

Kímmapiiyipitssini: The Meaning Of Empathy was shot over five years.

Commentary

Marilou Gagnon: Government negligence on full display as overdose deaths continue to rise

Apr 30

British Columbians now have a clear understanding of the significance and seriousness of a public crisis requiring government intervention.

Health Notes

B.C. Coroners Service reports 158 deaths in March due to toxic illicit drug supply

Apr 29

The B.C. and Canadian governments have failed to bring down the number of illicit-drug overdoses—and harm reduction advocates blame the lack of a safe drug supply.

Commentary

Pharmacist-led opioid stewardship programs help bridge the gap between managing pain and minimizing risk

Mar 18

Balancing the needs and risks of opioid use to manage pain effectively and safely requires cohesive efforts.

Health Notes

Harm reduction group says record 2020 overdose deaths due to B.C. government's flat-footed reaction in pandemic

Feb 11

Jordan Westfall wonders why the province won't allow a nonprofit company to distribute diacetylmorphine (heroin) in British Columbia.

Commentary

Dana Larsen: 10,000 street drug samples analyzed in Vancouver

Jan 19

A free local service does the most drug checking in Canada.

Health Notes

November marks another horrific month for overdose deaths in British Columbia

Dec 21

According to chief coroner Lisa LaPointe, the province is facing a record-breaking year for lives lost due to a toxic illicit-drug supply.