opioids

Between Dec. 2, 2022 and Jan. 2, 2023 over 200 purple, paper hearts decorated the memorial Christmas tree set up at Red Deer Regional Hospital Centre by Moms Stop The Harm. (Photo from Facebook)

Remembrance tree touches the hearts of Central Albertans

Honouring those who died due to substance use

 

Alberta Health Services narcotic transition services, designed for those with severe opioid addiction, will soon be available in Red Deer. (Black Press file photo)

Treatment for severe opioid addiction coming to Red Deer

‘More support is always welcome’

 

A sign is displayed in front of Health Canada headquarters in Ottawa on Friday, January 3, 2014. A national substance use research organization is warning about a new type of opioid that is increasingly being found in Canada’s unregulated drug supply. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Sean Kilpatrick

Rise of new opioid highlights unpredictable drug supply: Expert

Rising presence in the drug supply of potent synthetic opioids referred to as nitazenes

 

After receiving new syringes Russell Williams walks away from a needle exchange run by Camden Area Health Education Center in Camden, N.J., Thursday, Feb. 24, 2022. Four companies involved in the opioid industry are finalizing settlements over the addiction crisis in the U.S. in deals that could total $26 billion over 18 years. (AP Photo/Matt Rourke)

J&J, distributors finalize $26B landmark opioid settlement

Vast majority of money is required to be used to deal with epidemic

  • Feb 25, 2022
After receiving new syringes Russell Williams walks away from a needle exchange run by Camden Area Health Education Center in Camden, N.J., Thursday, Feb. 24, 2022. Four companies involved in the opioid industry are finalizing settlements over the addiction crisis in the U.S. in deals that could total $26 billion over 18 years. (AP Photo/Matt Rourke)
FILE - In this Aug. 9, 2021, file photo, fake pill bottles with messages about OxyContin maker Purdue Pharma are displayed during a protest outside the courthouse where the bankruptcy of the company is taking place in White Plains, N.Y. A federal judge on Thursday, Dec. 16, 2021, has rejected OxyContin maker Purdue Pharma’s bankruptcy settlement of thousands of lawsuits over the opioid epidemic because of a provision that would protect members of the Sackler family from facing litigation of their own. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig, File)

Suits against OxyContin owners on hold; negotiations ordered

Connecticut and Washington argued suits should be allowed to move ahead

  • Dec 30, 2021
FILE - In this Aug. 9, 2021, file photo, fake pill bottles with messages about OxyContin maker Purdue Pharma are displayed during a protest outside the courthouse where the bankruptcy of the company is taking place in White Plains, N.Y. A federal judge on Thursday, Dec. 16, 2021, has rejected OxyContin maker Purdue Pharma’s bankruptcy settlement of thousands of lawsuits over the opioid epidemic because of a provision that would protect members of the Sackler family from facing litigation of their own. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig, File)
Alberta is the first government in Canada to fully cover the cost of Sublocade, an injectable opioid treatment drug. (Contributed photo)

Alberta funds opioid treatment drug

‘Appropriate for pretty much anybody who has opioid addiction’

Alberta is the first government in Canada to fully cover the cost of Sublocade, an injectable opioid treatment drug. (Contributed photo)
This photo provided by Nancy Sack shows Carter Lange, Kim Gustavson, Jason Lange, Matthew Gustavson and Travis Gustavson. Nancy Sack's grandson, Travis Gustavson, died at age 21 in Mankato after overdosing on what he thought was heroin but was actually laced with fentanyl.(Katie Tettam /Nancy Sack via AP)

US overdose deaths topped 100,000 in one year, officials say

US overdose deaths topped 100,000 in one year, officials say

This photo provided by Nancy Sack shows Carter Lange, Kim Gustavson, Jason Lange, Matthew Gustavson and Travis Gustavson. Nancy Sack's grandson, Travis Gustavson, died at age 21 in Mankato after overdosing on what he thought was heroin but was actually laced with fentanyl.(Katie Tettam /Nancy Sack via AP)
Red Deer’s overdose prevention site operated by central Alberta’s harm reduction agency Turning Point. (Contributed)

Opioid deaths in Red Deer climb to 25

Across Alberta 821 people have died since January

Red Deer’s overdose prevention site operated by central Alberta’s harm reduction agency Turning Point. (Contributed)
B.C. chief coroner Lisa Lapointe provides an update on illicit drug toxicity deaths in the province during a news conference at the legislature in Victoria on Monday, Feb. 24, 2020. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Chad Hipolito

2021 had deadliest first half of a year for drug toxicity in B.C., chief coroner says

2021 had deadliest first half of a year for drug toxicity in B.C., chief coroner says

B.C. chief coroner Lisa Lapointe provides an update on illicit drug toxicity deaths in the province during a news conference at the legislature in Victoria on Monday, Feb. 24, 2020. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Chad Hipolito
Turning Point advises people to be prepared with Naloxone kits. (File photo by Advocate staff)

Opioid deaths slightly down but contaminated supply of drugs circulating in Red Deer

People warned about bad batch of strong opiates contaminating drug supply

Turning Point advises people to be prepared with Naloxone kits. (File photo by Advocate staff)
Red Deer’s overdose prevention site operated by central Alberta’s harm reduction agency Turning Point served about 213 clients last month. (Contributed)

Downtown overdose prevention site gets one-year extension

131 overdose reversals at the Red Deer site

Red Deer’s overdose prevention site operated by central Alberta’s harm reduction agency Turning Point served about 213 clients last month. (Contributed)
Co-owners Daelyn and Matt Hamill, of Red Shed Malting near Penhold, is a central Alberta company that recently joined Each+Every. (Photo by SUSAN ZIELINSKI/Advocate staff)

Reducing stigma: Alcohol industry works together to raise awareness about naloxone

Each+Every reaches out to increase membership

Co-owners Daelyn and Matt Hamill, of Red Shed Malting near Penhold, is a central Alberta company that recently joined Each+Every. (Photo by SUSAN ZIELINSKI/Advocate staff)
Police say there will be no criminal charges involving a Lethbridge supervised drug consumption site. (File photo)

Missing money found, no criminal charges involving Alberta drug site: police

Province still has concerns and won’t restore funding

Police say there will be no criminal charges involving a Lethbridge supervised drug consumption site. (File photo)
This Wednesday, Oct. 21, 2020 photo shows Purdue Pharma headquarters in Stamford, Conn. The Justice Department says on Wednesday, Purdue Pharma, the company that makes OxyContin, will plead guilty to three federal criminal charges as part of a settlement of more than $8 billion. OxyContin is the powerful prescription painkiller that experts say helped touch off an opioid epidemic. (AP Photo/Mark Lennihan)

OxyContin maker Purdue Pharma to plead to 3 criminal charges

OxyContin maker Purdue Pharma to plead to 3 criminal charges

This Wednesday, Oct. 21, 2020 photo shows Purdue Pharma headquarters in Stamford, Conn. The Justice Department says on Wednesday, Purdue Pharma, the company that makes OxyContin, will plead guilty to three federal criminal charges as part of a settlement of more than $8 billion. OxyContin is the powerful prescription painkiller that experts say helped touch off an opioid epidemic. (AP Photo/Mark Lennihan)
O.P.P officers guard 55 kilograms of cocaine during a press conference in Barrie, Ont., on Wednesday, April 3, 2019. Federal prosecutors are being instructed to criminally prosecute only the most serious drug possession offences and to find alternatives outside the criminal justice system for the rest. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Nathan Denette

Liberals move toward changing federal drug policy as opioid deaths spike

Feds launched a national consultation on supervised-consumption sites this week

O.P.P officers guard 55 kilograms of cocaine during a press conference in Barrie, Ont., on Wednesday, April 3, 2019. Federal prosecutors are being instructed to criminally prosecute only the most serious drug possession offences and to find alternatives outside the criminal justice system for the rest. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Nathan Denette
Kevin Cunningham, a health promotion worker with Turning Point, distributes harm-reduction supplies on Tuesday. Red Deer recorded eight fentanyl deaths in the first three months of the year, the highest rate in the province. (Photo by SUSAN ZIELINSKI/Advocate staff)

UPDATED: Red Deer’s rate of fentanyl fatalities worst in province

Eight deaths in first quarter of 2020

Kevin Cunningham, a health promotion worker with Turning Point, distributes harm-reduction supplies on Tuesday. Red Deer recorded eight fentanyl deaths in the first three months of the year, the highest rate in the province. (Photo by SUSAN ZIELINSKI/Advocate staff)
(Photo by Advocate staff).

Red Deer denied funds for addictions treatment

Red Deer has been left off the list of communities that will…

(Photo by Advocate staff).
Health Minister Tyler Shandro has announced Alberta is joining the class-action lawsuit against opioid manufacturers and distributors. (File photo by THE CANADIAN PRESS)

Alberta joining class-action lawsuit against opioid manufacturers, distributors

CALGARY — The Alberta government says it’s joining a class-action lawsuit to…

Health Minister Tyler Shandro has announced Alberta is joining the class-action lawsuit against opioid manufacturers and distributors. (File photo by THE CANADIAN PRESS)
Art Gutierrez injects a dose of heroin. He recently watched a friend die after taking a lethal dose of fentanyl. Must credit: Washington Post photo by Salwan Georges

New Trudeau-Trump opioid plan helps rebuild frayed relations from trade talks

New Trudeau-Trump opioid plan helps rebuild frayed relations from trade talks OTTAWA…

Art Gutierrez injects a dose of heroin. He recently watched a friend die after taking a lethal dose of fentanyl. Must credit: Washington Post photo by Salwan Georges
With drug consumption site approved in Red Deer’s Rail Lands, at least 2 businesses look to move

With drug consumption site approved in Red Deer’s Rail Lands, at least 2 businesses look to move

With the city moving ahead with a fenced-off supervised drug consumption site…

With drug consumption site approved in Red Deer’s Rail Lands, at least 2 businesses look to move