A timeline of British Columbia’s 10-year overdose health emergency
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British Columbia has marked 10 years of a public health emergency due to drug overdoses, with over 18,000 deaths reported. The province has implemented various measures to address the crisis, including a safer supply policy and decriminalization of small amounts of illicit drugs for personal use.
British Columbia declared a public health emergency in 2016 due to a spike in fatal overdoses. The province reported 474 apparent illicit drug deaths in 2015, a 30% increase from the previous year. A task force was launched to respond to the crisis, and the province has since implemented various measures, including a safer supply policy and decriminalization of small amounts of illicit drugs. The number of overdose deaths dropped in 2019 but increased during the COVID-19 pandemic. The province has continued to work on addressing the crisis, with a focus on reducing stigma and increasing access to health services.
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