The latest news articles featuring BC Centre on Substance Use.
Safe drug supply program still not reaching enough people in B.C., say advocates
March 26, 2021 | CBC News
It’s been a year since the province rushed to create new guidelines allowing doctors to prescribe hydromorphone to patients with opioid use disorders, as a way to give them an alternative to toxic illicit drugs. The change came as the COVID-19 pandemic began to take a significant toll in the p...
An App Designed to Curb Drug Overdose Deaths Has Saved 15 Lives
March 18, 2021 | The Tyee
At least 15 additional lives have been saved from toxic drug deaths in B.C. over the last 10 months thanks to a “virtual buddy” the province rolled out last May for people using substances. Paramedics and firefighters have, so far, responded to 62 calls for help through the Lifeguard app, which...
SFU researcher to study impacts of dual public health emergencies on youth
March 16, 2021 | Simon Fraser University News
Simon Fraser University public policy researcher Kora DeBeck has received federal funding to study the combined impact of the opioid overdose crisis and the COVID-19 pandemic on Vancouver youth who use drugs. The funding was confirmed last week by the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR), w...
Women Are Leading Canada’s Safe Supply Movement
March 10, 2021 | Filter
Everyone deserves access to health care. It should be unconditional. If you have diabetes and still enjoy the occasional unhealthy snack, a doctor will still prescribe you insulin—and yet equivalent humane treatment is often withheld from people who use drugs. This population is dying at alarming ...
Downtown Eastside ‘benzo dope’ issue worsening, says advocate
March 09, 2021 | CityNews (News 1130)
VANCOUVER (NEWS 1130) – The rise of a new drug labelled as “benzo dope” — fentanyl mixed with a drug called etizolam — is sparking yet another call for the province to step in and ensure a safe supply for users. Guy Felicella is a harm reduction advocate and says benzo dope is having a dr...
