Island Health issues overdose advisory for Greater Victoria
Island Health is warning of a spike in overdoses in the Greater Victoria region.
The health authority posted a drug poisoning and overdose advisory for the capital region on Wednesday afternoon.
Island Health is encouraging drug users to "start low, go slow" by taking small amounts of drugs and seeing what their effects are, and to carry naloxone.
Other recommendations from Island Health include staggering use with a friend, getting drugs tested at Substance UVic, or visiting a local overdose prevention centre, like The Harbour facility at 941 Pandora Ave., or Rock Bay Landing at 535 Ellice St.
Island Health's overdose warning comes one day after the province announced that more than 10,000 people had died of illicit drug overdoses in B.C. since April 2016, when the province first declared the epidemic a health emergency.
Meanwhile, roughly 1,095 people died of an overdose in the first six months of 2022 in B.C., the highest total ever recorded during the first six months of a calendar year in the province.
More details about overdose prevention services on Vancouver Island can be found on the Island Health website.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Widow looking for answers after Quebec man dies in Texas Ironman competition
The widow of a Quebec man who died competing in an Ironman competition is looking for answers.
Tom Mulcair: Park littered with trash after 'pilot project' is perfect symbol of Trudeau governance
Former NDP leader Tom Mulcair says that what's happening now in a trash-littered federal park in Quebec is a perfect metaphor for how the Trudeau government runs things.
World seeing near breakdown of international law amid wars in Gaza and Ukraine, Amnesty says
The world is seeing a near breakdown of international law amid flagrant rule-breaking in Gaza and Ukraine, multiplying armed conflicts, the rise of authoritarianism and huge rights violations in Sudan, Ethiopia and Myanmar, Amnesty International warned Wednesday as it published its annual report.
Photographer alleges he was forced to watch Megan Thee Stallion have sex and was unfairly fired
A photographer who worked for Megan Thee Stallion said in a lawsuit filed Tuesday that he was forced to watch her have sex, was unfairly fired soon after and was abused as her employee.
Amid concerns over 'collateral damage' Trudeau, Freeland defend capital gains tax change
Facing pushback from physicians and businesspeople over the coming increase to the capital gains inclusion rate, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and his deputy Chrystia Freeland are standing by their plan to target Canada's highest earners.
U.S. Senate passes bill forcing TikTok's parent company to sell or face ban, sends to Biden for signature
The Senate passed legislation Tuesday that would force TikTok's China-based parent company to sell the social media platform under the threat of a ban, a contentious move by U.S. lawmakers that's expected to face legal challenges.
Wildfire southwest of Peace River spurs evacuation order
People living near a wildfire burning about 15 kilometres southwest of Peace River are being told to evacuate their homes.
U.S. Senate overwhelmingly passes aid for Ukraine, Israel and Taiwan with big bipartisan vote
The U.S. Senate has passed US$95 billion in war aid to Ukraine, Israel and Taiwan, sending the legislation to President Joe Biden after months of delays and contentious debate over how involved the United States should be in foreign wars.
'My stomach dropped': Winnipeg man speaks out after being criminally harassed following single online date
A Winnipeg man said a single date gone wrong led to years of criminal harassment, false arrests, stress and depression.