The latest news articles featuring BC Centre on Substance Use.
Richmond Will Look into Expanding Its Harm Reduction Services
February 14, 2024 | The Tyee
Richmond city council held two rowdy nights of public hearings this week after tabling a motion on whether or not the city should look into bolstering its harm reduction services. Late last night, council voted eight-two in favour of asking city staff to analyze the potential benefits and challeng...
Deaths increase despite drug decriminalization, experts urge more safe supply for users
February 06, 2024 | The Hamilton Spectator
January 31 marked the one-year anniversary for B.C.’s three-year decriminalization pilot project, where people using up to 2.5 grams of certain illicit drugs would not face seizures, charges, or arrests. But as 2023 saw a five per cent increase in death rates, experts are pushing for expanding the...
Benefits and risks of B.C.’s prescribed safer drug supply
February 02, 2024 | Global News
Dr. Sharon Vipler from the BC Centre on Substance Use weighs in on B.C.’s safer drug supply program, its strengths and where it needs to improve....
Toxic drug crisis: B.C. experts urge expansion of ‘safe supply’ to save lives
February 01, 2024 | Global News
B.C. public health experts are urging the province to expand the current “safe supply” program, which prescribes clean drugs to a few thousand opioid users. According to Health Canada, safer supply is defined as “providing prescribed medications as a safer alternative to the toxic illegal drug...
MLA’s call to end B.C.’s drug decriminalization program misguided: advocate
January 30, 2024 | CityNews Vancouver
A BC United MLA has reached out to the federal government in hopes of putting an immediate end to B.C.’s drug decriminalization pilot program. In a letter to the federal minister for mental health and addictions, Elenore Sturko says she believes the province hasn’t proved its one-year-old decrim...