B.C. drug law exemption could cut seizures of some drugs in half
January 26, 2023 | Vancouver Sun
Vancouver police seized hundreds of kilograms of illicit drugs in recent years, but they were often just one or two grams at a time. A Postmedia analysis of more than 15,000 drugs seized from July 2020 to July 2022 found that big busts were relatively rare. The typical amount was less than two g...
South Asian community health workers welcome new low-risk alcohol guidance
January 26, 2023 | Toronto Star
A doctor who treats addiction at a clinic specifically for South Asian patients says Canada’s new guidance on alcohol bolsters his efforts to convey the message about associated harms to a community that is at higher risk for conditions such as heart disease. “I’m really happy to finally hear ...
UBC lab develops new, portable drug-checking device ahead of limited decriminalization
January 24, 2023 | CBC News
A lab at the University of British Columbia is working on new drug-checking technology, including a device they say can identify lower concentrations of drug components. Sara Guzman, a graduate student working at UBC’s Hein Lab, is helping test a new, portable version of high-performance liqui...
Incentivizing treatment for addiction could be more effective than mandating
January 18, 2023 | Globe and Mail
British Columbia recently suggested new policy for involuntary mental-health treatment. It is a large pivot on its previous stance but it does not end there. In Premier David Eby’s examination of the Mental Health Act for involuntary treatment, he is considering expanding to mandate treatment fo...
B.C.’s drug decriminalization pilot excludes young users — and that will marginalize them, experts fear
January 14, 2023 | CBC News
Experts say an upcoming pilot to decriminalize possession of small amounts of illicit drugs in British Columbia could increase risks for vulnerable youth because it excludes people under 18. As of Jan. 31, people aged 18 and older will be able to possess up to a cumulative 2.5 grams of opioids, ...
