addictions

Guy Felicella spent years battling addiction. He now advocates for easier access to treatment and harm reduction strategies. (Courtesy of Guy Felicella)

Limited addiction treatment and recovery options create care gaps in B.C. communities

Recovery advocate Guy Felicella says access to treatment needs to be easier to save more lives

 

People gather at Centennial Square marking the sixth anniversary of B.C. declaring overdose deaths a public health emergency in Victoria, Thursday, April 14, 2022. A First Nation on the northwest coast of Vancouver Island has declared a state of emergency over what its leadership describes as the “unrelating impact of drugs and alcohol” on its members, particularly children and youth.THE CANADIAN PRESS/Chad Hipolito

B.C. First Nation declares emergency over drug and alcohol crisis

Ehattesaht First Nation on Vancouver Island says six young people have died

 

A gathering in the Colombo Lodge piazza pre-pandemic. Photo: Facebook

Lodge says Trail shelter relocation goes against community plan

Colombo Lodge drafts a letter of concern to the city

 

All are welcome to the Respect & Connect speaker series being held at no cost in the Trail United Church on: Monday, Feb. 6; Saturday, Feb. 25; and Tuesday, March 21. Photo: Unsplash

Join ‘Respect Connect’ talk at Trail United Church, Monday

All are welcome to the Trail Community Action Team speaker series

All are welcome to the Respect & Connect speaker series being held at no cost in the Trail United Church on: Monday, Feb. 6; Saturday, Feb. 25; and Tuesday, March 21. Photo: Unsplash
Moms Stop the Harm advocates and supporters march from Centennial Square to the Ministry of Health building in Victoria on April 14, 2022, the sixth anniversary of B.C. declaring the opioid crisis a public health emergency. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Chad Hipolito

Chief coroner prescribes ‘urgency’ as B.C. records 2,272 toxic drug deaths in 2022

Experts call for holistic action, call response so far a failure

Moms Stop the Harm advocates and supporters march from Centennial Square to the Ministry of Health building in Victoria on April 14, 2022, the sixth anniversary of B.C. declaring the opioid crisis a public health emergency. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Chad Hipolito
Thursday (Jan. 17) Minister Anna Kang (right) toured the city with Mayor Colleen Jones (middle) and Trail councillors Bev Benson, Paul Butler, Nick Cashol, Thea Hanson, Terry Martin, and Doug Wilson. Photo: City of Trail/Instagram

Minister tours city with Trail council; update on shelter

Career Development Services is an agency governed by Trail Association for Community Living

Thursday (Jan. 17) Minister Anna Kang (right) toured the city with Mayor Colleen Jones (middle) and Trail councillors Bev Benson, Paul Butler, Nick Cashol, Thea Hanson, Terry Martin, and Doug Wilson. Photo: City of Trail/Instagram
Khristina (last name withheld), seen here at Salish Park on Jan. 18, 2023, from Saskatchewan comes to Chilliwack twice a year to find her son who is living on the streets, and to hand out supplies to homeless people. (Paul Henderson/ Chilliwack Progress)

Saskatchewan cattle rancher visits Fraser Valley twice a year to find her homeless son

‘I spent time with him, and that has to be enough’

Khristina (last name withheld), seen here at Salish Park on Jan. 18, 2023, from Saskatchewan comes to Chilliwack twice a year to find her son who is living on the streets, and to hand out supplies to homeless people. (Paul Henderson/ Chilliwack Progress)
Dave Laboucane was on suboxone when becoming clean earlier this year but returned to Kelowna’s Tent City and suffered severe burns in a fire attempting to keep his tent warm in the cold weather. (Jacqueline Gelineau/Capital News)

“There is help out there”: Kelowna burn victim identified as man with 22-year troubled past

Another example of Kelowna’s homeless population and the province’s ongoing drug crisis

Dave Laboucane was on suboxone when becoming clean earlier this year but returned to Kelowna’s Tent City and suffered severe burns in a fire attempting to keep his tent warm in the cold weather. (Jacqueline Gelineau/Capital News)
The Recovery Cafe in East Vancouver is the first of its kind in Canada. It offers a supportive space for people recovering from substance use, mental health challenges and homelessness. (Credit: Sean McGuire)

Vancouver’s Recovery Cafe is an ‘oasis in the desert’

The first of its kind in Canada, the cafe offers a physical space for support and growth

  • Dec 11, 2022
The Recovery Cafe in East Vancouver is the first of its kind in Canada. It offers a supportive space for people recovering from substance use, mental health challenges and homelessness. (Credit: Sean McGuire)
“We certainly do have a problem in Trail with a much higher number of people than before dealing with mental illness, drug use issues and lack of housing, as does just about every community in B.C.,” writes Trail CAT. Photo: Unsplash

Trail CAT: Support for local businesses is available

Letter from Trail Community Action Team

  • Dec 8, 2022
“We certainly do have a problem in Trail with a much higher number of people than before dealing with mental illness, drug use issues and lack of housing, as does just about every community in B.C.,” writes Trail CAT. Photo: Unsplash
Paramedics work to revive a person from an apparent drug overdose in Chilliwack. (Black Press Media file photo)

Mapping where overdoses are more likely to kill in B.C.

Fatality rates far higher in rural areas than urban ones

  • Dec 6, 2022
Paramedics work to revive a person from an apparent drug overdose in Chilliwack. (Black Press Media file photo)
Mental Health and Addictions Minister Sheila Malcolmson was among the nearly three dozen participants at Saturday’s (Nov. 26) Walk With Me event in Courtenay. Photo by Terry Farrell

B.C.’s mental health minister hopes more people listen to stories of toxic drug crisis

Sheila Malcolmson says listening could change the way people view those impacted

Mental Health and Addictions Minister Sheila Malcolmson was among the nearly three dozen participants at Saturday’s (Nov. 26) Walk With Me event in Courtenay. Photo by Terry Farrell
Trail City Hall. Photo: File

Trail council looks at voting snapshot, shelter update

The chief elections officer for the 2022 municipal election in Trail has…

Trail City Hall. Photo: File
FILE - Matthew Perry arrives at the premiere of “The Invention of Lying” in Los Angeles on Sept. 21, 2009. Perry turns 52 on Aug. 19. (AP Photo/Matt Sayles, File)

Near-fatal ODs and love faxes to Julia Roberts: What Matthew Perry’s memoir reveals

‘I was Chandler’: Friends star’s book details a constant battle with addictions

FILE - Matthew Perry arrives at the premiere of “The Invention of Lying” in Los Angeles on Sept. 21, 2009. Perry turns 52 on Aug. 19. (AP Photo/Matt Sayles, File)
High school students recently donated their artwork to brighten the walls of the Trail shelter. Photo: Submitted

Council grants one-year extension to downtown Trail shelter

Several members of the public addressed council prior to the Sept. 26 vote

High school students recently donated their artwork to brighten the walls of the Trail shelter. Photo: Submitted
La Nina shelter is located in downtown Trail. The one-year (temporary) use permit for up to 18 beds expires Sept. 30. Photo: File

‘Save our Shelter,’ implores Trail advocacy team

Permit expires on Sept. 30

  • Sep 22, 2022
La Nina shelter is located in downtown Trail. The one-year (temporary) use permit for up to 18 beds expires Sept. 30. Photo: File
The Tiny Home Village in Victoria’s North Park neighbourhood welcomed 30 residents in May 2021. (Black Press Media file photo)

Tiny home villages as solution to homelessness? 3 B.C. mayors say yes

Sites up and running in Victoria and Duncan, Port Alberni on its way to do the same

The Tiny Home Village in Victoria’s North Park neighbourhood welcomed 30 residents in May 2021. (Black Press Media file photo)
Art from JL Crowe students brighten the walls of the downtown Trail shelter. Photo: Submitted

Kootenay Columbia student writes, ‘Connection truly is the basis of healing’

Letter to the Editor from Emily Henry of Rossland

  • Aug 31, 2022
Art from JL Crowe students brighten the walls of the downtown Trail shelter. Photo: Submitted
To memorialize lives lost to overdose, purple chairs have been placed around Trail at: Good Stuff/Kootenay West Distilling (pictured); Trail Association for Community Living/Career Development Services office; Riverfront Centre/Trail library; Hall Printing; Mills Office Productivity; Threads; Trail Coffee Company; and JJ’s Fashions. Photo: Sheri Regnier

Wondering about the purple chairs placed around Trail?

‘Purple is the colour used to recognize the toxic drug supply killing people all over the world.’

To memorialize lives lost to overdose, purple chairs have been placed around Trail at: Good Stuff/Kootenay West Distilling (pictured); Trail Association for Community Living/Career Development Services office; Riverfront Centre/Trail library; Hall Printing; Mills Office Productivity; Threads; Trail Coffee Company; and JJ’s Fashions. Photo: Sheri Regnier
BC Housing has asked Trail council to consider a three-year renewal of the temporary use permit at the 18-bed shelter, located at south end of downtown Trail.

Trail landowner urges residents to voice opinion to council over shelter extension

He mentioned related crime, violence and aggression

BC Housing has asked Trail council to consider a three-year renewal of the temporary use permit at the 18-bed shelter, located at south end of downtown Trail.