Researcher calls for ‘agenda-free’ approach to youth addictions services

published on March 3, 2021 by Maria Rantanen in Richmond News

In Richmond, there were 18 suspected overdose deaths in 2020 – up from 10 in 2019 – with 1,716 recorded across the province, of which almost 20 per cent are people under the age of 30.

Just in January, a 25-year-old Richmond man, Tristan Coatta, died of an accidental overdose after a struggle with an eating disorder and drug addiction.

To reach young people who are using drugs, Danya Fast, a research scientist with the BC Centre on Substance Use and an assistant professor at UBC, is calling for an “agenda-free” approach to those struggling with substance use.

Her research has shown just telling young people drugs are bad and they should stop –approaching them with an agenda to make them stop – doesn’t work. In fact, youth are “disconnecting” from services that take that approach, she added…