New hope for people with stimulant use disorder

published on May 14, 2025 in Michael Smith Health Research BC

Every day in British Columbia, five people lose their lives to unregulated drug toxicity. It is a crisis that demands new solutions.  

April 14, 2025 marked the ninth anniversary of BC declaring the toxic drug crisis a public health emergency. Thousands have passed away from drug poisoning in the last nine years. Thousands more — including their family and friends — continue to suffer.  

Communities across the province are working urgently to address the devastating impacts. In Vancouver, Dr. Paxton Bach is partnering with people with substance use disorders to improve treatment options and create new pathways to recovery.

As an addiction medicine specialist at St. Paul’s Hospital, Paxton has seen firsthand the complex health challenges linked to stimulant drugs like crystal methamphetamine (“crystal meth”). The rise in stimulant use has led to more chronic diseases, emergency room visits, hospitalizations, and overdose deaths…