The B.C. government is marking 10 years since the toxic-drug crisis was declared a public-health emergency, with officials saying the impacts continue to be felt in communities across the province.

Health Minister Josie Osborne says the decade-long emergency has brought heartbreak and loss, as increasingly toxic and unpredictable street drugs continue to claim lives.

She says substance use is often linked to trauma, health challenges, poverty and barriers to support, and reducing stigma remains a key part of helping people access care.

Provincial health officer Dr. Bonnie Henry says the increasingly toxic drug supply has made the situation more dangerous, with overdoses affecting people across all communities.

She says the crisis has also been intensified by factors such as housing instability, poverty, stigma and gaps in the health-care system.

Both Osborne and Henry say the anniversary is also a time to honour those who have died and recognize the work of front-line responders, peer-support workers and health-care providers responding to the crisis.

To view the full statements, visit Government of British Columbia.