Drugs

B.C. Court of Appeal in Vancouver. (Black Press Media files)

Murder conspiracy charges land Cloverdale man in court

B.C. anti-gang police investigated the same suspect for alleged drug trafficking

B.C. Court of Appeal in Vancouver. (Black Press Media files)
Levi Manson holds a photo of his late brother, Aaron, joined by mom Troylana and dad Bart. This photo was taken in September 2021 at Prince Charles Park in downtown Kamloops. (Michael Potestio/KTW/LJI)

Family reeling after little-known drug Kratom contributes to B.C. man’s fatal overdose

Aaron Manson, 26, died after overdosing in his room in Kamloops

Levi Manson holds a photo of his late brother, Aaron, joined by mom Troylana and dad Bart. This photo was taken in September 2021 at Prince Charles Park in downtown Kamloops. (Michael Potestio/KTW/LJI)
Guns, drugs, cash and cars were among the items seized by Coquitlam RCMP in a gang-linked bust. (Coquitlam RCMP)

3 kgs fentanyl seized with other drugs, guns, luxury cars in gang-linked Coquitlam bust

Investigation had been ongoing since September 2020

Guns, drugs, cash and cars were among the items seized by Coquitlam RCMP in a gang-linked bust. (Coquitlam RCMP)
Methamphetamine, heroin and cocaine from a safe supply being handed out to drug users by the Vancouver Area Network of Drug Users, Drug User Liberation Front and Moms Stop the Harm to mark International Overdose Awareness Day, are displayed in the Downtown Eastside of Vancouver, on Tuesday, August 31, 2021. British Columbia’s chief coroner says at least 1,011 people died from suspected illicit drug overdoses from January to June, the highest death toll recorded in the first six months of a calendar year during the province’s overdose crisis. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck

Alberta police chiefs say too soon to support drug decriminalization

Calgary chief constable says decriminalization alone wouldn’t reduce addiction or overdose rates.

Methamphetamine, heroin and cocaine from a safe supply being handed out to drug users by the Vancouver Area Network of Drug Users, Drug User Liberation Front and Moms Stop the Harm to mark International Overdose Awareness Day, are displayed in the Downtown Eastside of Vancouver, on Tuesday, August 31, 2021. British Columbia’s chief coroner says at least 1,011 people died from suspected illicit drug overdoses from January to June, the highest death toll recorded in the first six months of a calendar year during the province’s overdose crisis. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck
The BC RCMP’s Clandestine Laboratory Enforcement and Response team is on scene at a drug-making operation on Lefeuvre Road just north of Starr Road in northwest Abbotsford. (Vikki Hopes/Abbotsford News)

BC RCMP team investigates drug ‘super lab’ in rural Abbotsford

Clandestine Laboratory Enforcement and Response expected to be on scene for ‘several days’

The BC RCMP’s Clandestine Laboratory Enforcement and Response team is on scene at a drug-making operation on Lefeuvre Road just north of Starr Road in northwest Abbotsford. (Vikki Hopes/Abbotsford News)
Minister of Health Jean-Yves Duclos participates in a news conference on the COVID-19 pandemic and the omicron variant, in Ottawa, on Friday, Dec. 17, 2021. Duclos has put a six-month pause on new regulations designed to lower the cost of patented medicines in Canada. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Justin Tang

Liberals delay new regulations to lower price of medicines in Canada

The regulations were supposed to come into force at the beginning of January

Minister of Health Jean-Yves Duclos participates in a news conference on the COVID-19 pandemic and the omicron variant, in Ottawa, on Friday, Dec. 17, 2021. Duclos has put a six-month pause on new regulations designed to lower the cost of patented medicines in Canada. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Justin Tang
Officers with the CFSEU Gang Enforcement Team followed a car with bogus license plates to a Langley home earlier this month, seizing guns, body armour, ammunition, and drugs. (BCCFSEU/Special to the Langley Advance Times)

3 arrested, drugs and weapons seized in Langley takedown

What started as a suspicious vehicle and its occupants fleeing police ended with trio behind bars

Officers with the CFSEU Gang Enforcement Team followed a car with bogus license plates to a Langley home earlier this month, seizing guns, body armour, ammunition, and drugs. (BCCFSEU/Special to the Langley Advance Times)
An addict uses the sign for a mobile needle exchange program to block the wind as he tries to smoke crack in an alley in Abbotsford, B.C., on July 5, 2012. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jonathan Hayward

More work to be done as Canada ranks sixth in global drug policy index: experts

Canadian Drug Policy Coalition: ‘It’s a passing grade, but (Canada) is not doing well’

An addict uses the sign for a mobile needle exchange program to block the wind as he tries to smoke crack in an alley in Abbotsford, B.C., on July 5, 2012. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jonathan Hayward
A used naloxone kit is seen on the sidewalk as paramedics from B.C. Ambulance respond to a drug overdose in downtown Vancouver, Wednesday, June 23, 2021. Over the past several years the drug overdoses not only across British Columbia but throughout Canada have but grown. On June, 23, 2021 for instance B.C. Ambulance paramedics responded to 140 overdose calls across the province with 42 of those being just in Vancouver. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jonathan Hayward

Illicit drug deaths hit grim record high in the first 9 months of 2021: BC Coroners Service

Coroners service said that the death rate from illicit drug overdoses has risen to 39.4 per 100,000 residents

A used naloxone kit is seen on the sidewalk as paramedics from B.C. Ambulance respond to a drug overdose in downtown Vancouver, Wednesday, June 23, 2021. Over the past several years the drug overdoses not only across British Columbia but throughout Canada have but grown. On June, 23, 2021 for instance B.C. Ambulance paramedics responded to 140 overdose calls across the province with 42 of those being just in Vancouver. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jonathan Hayward
Dr. Raimar Lobenberg, director of Applied Pharmaceutical Innovation and University of Alberta professor, works with researcher Chulhun Park on an automated filling machine in a cleanroom used for clinical trial production in an undated handout photo. THE CANADIAN PRESS/HO-University of Alberta, *MANDATORY CREDIT*

Scientists hope to link lab bench with pharmacy shelves through Edmonton drug plant

World-leading lab, drug manufacturer hope to plug hole in Canada’s drug supply system

Dr. Raimar Lobenberg, director of Applied Pharmaceutical Innovation and University of Alberta professor, works with researcher Chulhun Park on an automated filling machine in a cleanroom used for clinical trial production in an undated handout photo. THE CANADIAN PRESS/HO-University of Alberta, *MANDATORY CREDIT*
A shelf of drugs at a pharmacy in Quebec City on March 8, 2012. Critics of a major drug-price overhaul hope a new federal cabinet will put a temporary stop to the new regulations set to come into effect in January. The Patented Medicine Prices Review Board is set to change the way it sets a price cap on medicines in Canada in an effort to lower excessively expensive drug prices. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jacques Boissinot

Critics hope Trudeau’s new cabinet will put a stop to drug-price regulation changes

Overhaul has drawn the disapproval of patient groups and drug manufacturers

A shelf of drugs at a pharmacy in Quebec City on March 8, 2012. Critics of a major drug-price overhaul hope a new federal cabinet will put a temporary stop to the new regulations set to come into effect in January. The Patented Medicine Prices Review Board is set to change the way it sets a price cap on medicines in Canada in an effort to lower excessively expensive drug prices. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jacques Boissinot
People hold a banner during a march to remember those who died during the overdose crisis and to call for a safe supply of illicit drugs on International Overdose Awareness Day, in Vancouver, on Tuesday, August 31, 2021. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is being urged to decriminalize the possession and use of illicit drugs as a way to combat the opioid crisis that has resulted in thousands of deaths in Canada.THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck

Trudeau urged to make decriminalization of illicit drugs a priority

Almost 23,000 Canadians died from an opioid overdose between January 2016 and March 2021

People hold a banner during a march to remember those who died during the overdose crisis and to call for a safe supply of illicit drugs on International Overdose Awareness Day, in Vancouver, on Tuesday, August 31, 2021. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is being urged to decriminalize the possession and use of illicit drugs as a way to combat the opioid crisis that has resulted in thousands of deaths in Canada.THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck
Matsqui Institution in Abbotsford (Abbotsford News file photo)

Crystal meth worth $183K located at Abbotsford prison

Package containing the drugs seized Oct. 11 from Matsqui Institution

Matsqui Institution in Abbotsford (Abbotsford News file photo)
A photo of the drugs seized on the sailboat that was caught off the coast of Nova Scotia. (Photo: RCMP)

Kelowna man arrested after 500 kilos of cocaine found on boat near Nova Scotia

Aleck Villeneuve, 38, faces several drug trafficking charges

A photo of the drugs seized on the sailboat that was caught off the coast of Nova Scotia. (Photo: RCMP)
Former Chilliwack drug user Mike K. speaks about his experience as an addict in the third part of The Hidden Crisis video series. (Justin Booth/ Dock Visual Media)

VIDEO: ‘My experience with cocaine was a real dark place,’ says former Chilliwack addict

Chilliwack man speaks about life when he was an addict as part of overdose prevention video series

Former Chilliwack drug user Mike K. speaks about his experience as an addict in the third part of The Hidden Crisis video series. (Justin Booth/ Dock Visual Media)
‘Magic mushrooms’ are a source of psilocybin, a psychedelic drug being tested for therapeutic use. (Adastra)

Langley cannabis firm applies to produce psychedelic drugs for therapy

Adastra wants to add LSD, MDMA to its product line

‘Magic mushrooms’ are a source of psilocybin, a psychedelic drug being tested for therapeutic use. (Adastra)
A man plays the tuba as the National Guard patrols downtown Jerez, Zacatecas state, Mexico, Friday, July 16, 2021. For years, much of Mexico’s violence was focused along its northern border in cities like Tijuana, Ciudad Juarez and Nuevo Laredo. Now Zacatecas, including in the state capital of the same name, awaken everyday to the violence. (AP Photo/Marco Ugarte)

Mexican cartel threatens news anchor, demands equal coverage

Video message said cartel did not want to inhibit freedom of expression, just wanted even coverage

A man plays the tuba as the National Guard patrols downtown Jerez, Zacatecas state, Mexico, Friday, July 16, 2021. For years, much of Mexico’s violence was focused along its northern border in cities like Tijuana, Ciudad Juarez and Nuevo Laredo. Now Zacatecas, including in the state capital of the same name, awaken everyday to the violence. (AP Photo/Marco Ugarte)
A man prepares heroin to be injected at the Insite safe injection clinic in Vancouver on May 11, 2011. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck

Urgent need in Alberta to address potent drug supply, overdose crisis: health experts

More than 105 people died each month from drug poisoning between May 2020 and April 2021

A man prepares heroin to be injected at the Insite safe injection clinic in Vancouver on May 11, 2011. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck
Langley RCMP found drugs, guns, cash, stolen cars, and even a stolen boat when they raided a rural Abbotsford property in June. (Langley RCMP)

Drug raid by Langley RCMP on rural Abbotsford house nets cash, guns, fentanyl

Police used flashbangs to enter when the occupants wouldn’t open the doors

Langley RCMP found drugs, guns, cash, stolen cars, and even a stolen boat when they raided a rural Abbotsford property in June. (Langley RCMP)
Protesters march towards the House of Representatives where Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte is set to deliver his final State of the Nation Address in Quezon city on Monday, July 26, 2021. Duterte is winding down his six-year term amid a raging pandemic and a battered economy. (AP Photo/Gerard Carreon)

Philippine leader unabashedly threatens to kill drug dealers

Duterte: ‘You can do it the legal way, but it would take you months and years’

Protesters march towards the House of Representatives where Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte is set to deliver his final State of the Nation Address in Quezon city on Monday, July 26, 2021. Duterte is winding down his six-year term amid a raging pandemic and a battered economy. (AP Photo/Gerard Carreon)