Summer vacation is almost over, and that means children will soon be back at school. As kids return to childcare spaces or classrooms, they will be interacting with many more people than they do at home, increasing their chances of being exposed to infectious diseases.

Adrian Dix, Minister of Health, has issued the following statement about measures that Health Canada is taking to help protect youth from nicotine-replacement therapies (NRT)

With warm weather in the forecast for the Labour Day long weekend and many people looking for ways to cool off, Public Health officials at Vancouver Coastal Health warn the public that a “Not suitable for swimming” advisory remains in place for Alice Lake near Squamish, due to a bloom of blue-green algae, or cyanobacteria.

Island Health - Drug poisonings are increasing in Capital Regional District. Friends, family and community members using unregulated substances face increased risk.

People living with alcohol or opioid use disorder now have a way to directly and quickly access addiction medicine specialists.

The Province is moving forward with new guidelines to protect students and reduce the risks and harms of toxic-drug poisonings.

Overdoses are increasing in Mt. Waddington. Friends, family and community members using opioids and stimulants face increased risk from injection and inhalation.

The Province has launched the Opioid Treatment Access Line to make it faster and easier for people to get life-saving medication to treat opioid-use disorder and get connected to same-day care.

You may have heard a parent or grandparent say, “I used to walk a mile to school in minus 35 weather.” Walking to school was a necessity before the widespread use of vehicles and school buses.