BC Health Experts Say the Province Has Solutions to the Toxic Drug Crisis. 10 Years In, Policies Still Ignore The Evidence. “We have this bizarre dichotomy where everybody agrees that this is a health issue, but the majority of the resources…goes to law enforcement.”

Two events this week in Victoria marked the 10 year anniversary of the public health emergency of the #toxicdrugcrisis in BC — one inside the Legislature building and one outside.

I went to both, and found experts on either side of the wall saying the same things:

pressprogress.ca/bc-health-ex...

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Our office continues to hear from families, front-line workers and young people who are being impacted by the toxic drug crisis. We need to keep young people alive so they can heal. Addressing the toxic drug supply is a critical step. #ToxicDrugCrisis #YouthDeaths #DontLookAway

As the toxic drug crisis continues, fear, stigma, and public pressure are narrowing the space for balanced, evidence-informed, and child-centred policy and practice. We can and must do so much better
#PoisonedSupply #YouthWellBeing #ToxicDrugCrisis #BCYouth #PublicHealth

Our office continues to hear from families, front-line workers and young people who are being impacted by the toxic drug crisis. We need to keep young people alive to help them heal. Addressing the toxic drug supply is a critical step. #ToxicDrugCrisis #YouthDeaths #PoisonedSupply #BC #DontLookAway

Reflecting on 10 Long Years of BC’s Toxic Drug Crisis | The Tyee I’ve spent my career working in the public health emergency. It’s time for a full embrace of evidence-based drug policies.

If the toxic drug crisis concerns you, and it should, then I recommend you read Dr. Ryan Herriot's article in The Tyee. See below. Dr. Herriot clearly lays out the problem in front of us and the failure of government to act with evidence based solutions.
#toxicdrugcrisis
thetyee.ca/Opinion/2026...

A Decade in Crisis: Choosing Compassion Over Politics Richmond in 2025: 21 community members lost

Ten years into this crisis—and we’re still losing lives every single day.
This isn’t about politics. It’s about people. It’s about compassion. It’s about choosing to act.
#dickey4council #CompassionInAction #bcdrugcrisis #richmondbc #bcpublichealth #toxicdrugcrisis #cdnpoli

200+ people are gathered at Victoria legislature today to mark a dark anniversary: 10 years of the toxic drug crisis as a public health emergency this year.

18,000+ deaths. Lots of frustration w/ provincial government.

Article to come for @pressprogress.ca. #bcnews #toxicdrugcrisis

Ten years. More than 18,000 lives lost to BC's toxic drug crisis.
We remember. We stand alongside everyone who has shown up through this decade - frontline workers, families, survivors.
You are not alone. 📞 1-800-663-1441 | Text or call 9-8-8

#ToxicDrugCrisis #Weremeber

BC’s Toxic Drug Crisis Hits a Grim 10-Year Anniversary | The Tyee More than 18,000 British Columbians have been killed and there’s no end in sight.

It’s been four and a half years since Jane McCormick’s son, Jeff, was killed by unregulated drugs.

Were he alive, he would have just celebrated his 40th birthday with his two kids.

#ToxicDrugCrisis #bcpoli

Reflecting on 10 Long Years of BC’s Toxic Drug Crisis | The Tyee I’ve spent my career working in the public health emergency. It’s time for a full embrace of evidence-based drug policies.

“We will emerge into a landscape of rational drug policy, even if it remains pretty dark until we get there.”

Victoria-based addiction medicine specialist Dr. Ryan Herriot writes. #ToxicDrugCrisis #bcpoli

🆘EVERYONE: Ontario is facing a #ToxicDrugCrisis — and losing supervised consumption services will only make it worse.

Help us in urge Premier Ford to reverse this decision: RNAO.ca/policy/actio...

The Fast-Changing Chemistry of New, Dangerous Drugs Today’s illicit chemists can quickly cook up drugs far more dangerous than fentanyl.

The Fast-Changing Chemistry of New, Dangerous Drugs. Today’s illicit chemists can quickly cook up drugs far more potent than fentanyl, by @13pt.com, Matt Richtel
www.nytimes.com/interactive/... www.nytimes.com/interactive/... via @nytimes.com #ToxicDrugCrisis

Opinion | San Francisco Sobers Up

San Francisco Sobers Up. The city no longer looks like an open-air drug den. The tents are gone. Public drug use less common. Public disorder way down. People with substance use disorder are getting help, by German Lopez www.nytimes.com/2026/04/06/o... via @nytopinion.nytimes.com #ToxicDrugCrisis

Ontario is facing a #ToxicDrugCrisis — and losing supervised consumption services will only make it worse.

Your voice matters more than ever.

Urge Premier @fordnation to reverse this decision: RNAO.ca/policy/actio...

Ontario's #ToxicDrugCrisis is taking lives every day — shutting down supports will only deepen the crisis.

Join us in urging Premier Ford to reverse the decision to close supervised consumption services: RNAO.ca/policy/actio...

#HarmReduction

Ontario is facing a #ToxicDrugCrisis — and losing supervised consumption services will only make it worse.

Your voice matters more than ever.

Urge Premier Doug Ford to reverse this decision: RNAO.ca/policy/actio...

It is also a moral failure.
#toxicdrugcrisis

Latest from FHS PhD candidate @tsk.bsky.social and collaborators on the public health impacts of transitioning away from decriminalization practices on populations already facing multiple challenges.

#SFU #SFUFHS #pwus #ToxicDrugCrisis #Vancouver

How Many People Are Overdosing at BC’s Hospitals? | The Tyee That data is key to knowing where supervised consumption sites are needed. The government won’t release it.

After seven months, seven #FOI requests and two Office of the Information and Privacy Commissioner complaints, The Tyee is no closer to a strong understanding of how many people are surviving overdoses as patients in B.C. hospitals.

@michellegamage.bsky.social reports. #bcpoli #ToxicDrugCrisis

This is a good explainer about the "fentanyl fold" -- a condition suffered by many drug users who consume contaminated opioids, by streetdrjill (Dr. Jill Wiwcharuk)
www.instagram.com/reel/DSu3eOG... via @dsdp.ca #ToxicDrugCrisis

#healthcare #BC #toxicdrugcrisis #canadasky

BC’s Drug Response Isn’t Following the Evidence: Former Coroner | The Tyee The province is neglecting safer supply and housing, which are proven to reduce harms, says Lisa Lapointe.

Former chief coroner Lisa Lapointe recently criticized B.C.’s drug policies, saying the province’s approach to the ongoing #ToxicDrugCrisis is not evidence-based. @michellegamage.bsky.social reports. #bcpoli

➡️Expansion of for-profit care
➡️#ToxicDrugCrisis
➡️📈number of Ontarians without a regular primary care provider
These are few of the topics #OntMedia highlighted in 2025.

Are you a journalist?

🎯Enter RNAO’s #MediaAwards🎙️now:
RNAO.ca/about/awards...

🚨Ontario’s escalating #ToxicDrugCrisis & gov't action which contradicts science & #HarmReduction approach— is just one of the many issues that made news in 2025. #OntMedia

Ask a journalist to enter our #MediaAwards🎙competition: RNAO.ca/about/awards...

Alberta’s mental health and addictions minister says overdose stats declining, but stats suggest otherwise How the fight to save people in Red Deer from opioid-related overdoses is going, seems to be a matter of persp...

Red Deer is seeing skyrocketing overdose EMS responses since the safe use site closed.
“162 in 2024, compared to the 268 tracked in 2025…the highest of all the years the government has tracked, [since] 2017.”
Minister Wilson refuses to see it. #ABpoli #ToxicDrugCrisis
rdnewsnow.com/2026/01/05/a...

Why does our society require a reminder like this? 🤷🏻‍♂️
#housingfirst #toxicdrugcrisis

How opioid deaths are hollowing out the construction industry Workers in the skilled trades make up a large share of overdoses fatalities, at a time when their labour is needed more than ever

How opioid deaths are hollowing out the construction industry. Workers in the skilled trades make up a large share of overdoses fatalities, at a time when their labour is needed more than ever, by @jasonkirby.bsky.social www.theglobeandmail.com/business/art... @theglobeandmail.com #ToxicDrugCrisis

Have Victoria’s millions made a difference on Pandora Avenue? The Globe returns to check The B.C. capital’s efforts to address public safety are heavy on ambition – but it isn’t yet clear whether they’re making an impact

Have Victoria’s millions made a difference on the infamous Pandora Avenue? The Globe returns to check, by Nancy MacDonald
www.theglobeandmail.com/canada/artic... via @theglobeandmail.com #homelessness #ToxicDrugCrisis

The Supreme Court of Canada Wants You to Call 911 if Someone Is Overdosing | The Tyee Police can’t arrest a person for drug possession if they call for help and stick around, a new ruling finds.

Saving a life is more important than policing small amounts of drug use, the Supreme Court of Canada ruled last month.

@michellegamage.bsky.social reports. #canpoli #ToxicDrugCrisis

We need a comprehensive strategy from our province to address the toxic drug crisis. The Ministry of Health confirmed they have no plan. Our community deserves better.

#overdose #toxicdrugcrisis #EMS