It is common practice in the health system to evaluate novel (ie. new, different, or innovative) solutions to urgent and emerging public health crises. Examples of previous such life-saving research include HIV medication buyer’s clubs, needle distribution programs, and supervised injection sites. Consistent with this history, the BC Centre on

Last week the City of Vancouver forcibly displaced people living in tents along Hastings Street on the Downtown Eastside. City workers and police removed people and their possessions, the majority of whom had nowhere else to go. Since then, people setting up structures on Hastings Street have been displaced daily.

At least 1,095 British Columbians are believed to have been lost to the toxic drug supply between January and June 2022, according to preliminary data released by the BC Coroners Service on August 16. The number of deaths from toxic drugs in B.C. between January and June is the highest

Every year, the BC Centre on Substance Use brings together stakeholders from across the province for its annual conference. This year we hosted our 4th annual conference virtually over two days, with more than 1,100 registrants, along with multiple regional conference sites with dozens of attendees hosted by drug user

In December 2021, the government of Alberta established the Select Special Committee to Examine Safe Supply. The Committee was created as deaths from the toxic illicit drug supply continue to rise both in Alberta and across Canada. Provincial data from Alberta showed that 2021 was the deadliest year on record,

On Wednesday, February 9, the BC Coroners Service released its report on illicit drug poisoning deaths in 2021. At least 2,224 British Columbians died in 2021, a 26% increase from 2020. BC Centre on Substance Use Peer Clinical Advisor Guy Felicella was invited to speak at the Coroners announcement. Here

It’s a common scenario many clinicians face: an individual shares challenges they’ve been having with substances. Maybe they’ve increased their alcohol consumption to manage stress, or they’ve recently turned to unregulated drugs to cope with pain from an injury. Regardless of the scenario, not every healthcare professional has been provided

Authors: Cheyenne Johnson (Tootinaowaziibeeng First Nation, pictured right) is Executive Director of the BC Centre on Substance Use and Dr. Nel Wieman (Little Grand Rapids First Nation, pictured left) is Acting Deputy Chief Medical Officer of the First Nations Health Authority. This past week, on International Overdose Awareness Day (August

Led by and for Indigenous Peoples, Courageous Conversations builds strength-based community support during a time of unprecedented challenges. Courageous Conversations, hosted by Corrina Chase, is a free public webinar series aimed at Indigenous Peoples in British Columbia affected by the dual health emergencies of the toxic drug crisis and COVID-19.