Research: Youth often use cannabis as harm reduction, may help stop injection drug use
August 20, 2020
New research is shedding light on how cannabis use among some young people may be an important way to reduce the harms of other substance use. Two newly published studies from researchers with the BC Centre on Substance Use (BCCSU) and the University of British Columbia (UBC) examined cannabis use behaviours among young people and other people who ...
New provincial training program for BC health care providers aims to improve care for those with alcohol use disorder
August 17, 2020
A new free, virtual training series for BC health care providers aimed at improving knowledge, skills and competencies in managing alcohol use disorder launches this week. The BC ECHO on Substance Use – Alcohol Use Disorder, offered by the BC Centre on Substance Use (BCCSU) in partnership with Doctors of BC, will connect health care providers thr...
BCCSU statement on decriminalization of people who use drugs
July 9, 2020
The BCCSU supports the call for the decriminalization of people who use drugs. Dr. Bonnie Henry’s 2019 report, “Stopping the Harm,” detailed how the war on drugs has failed to reduce drug use, and instead has had unintended consequences such as fostering a mistrust with the health system and discouraging people who need and want care from...
BC Centre on Substance Use statement on proposed amendments to the Mental Health Act
June 29, 2020
Addressing the unique harms experienced by youth who use substances is of critical importance. While there have been important steps made in recent years, there remain large gaps across the province within existing youth substance use services that prevent access to withdrawal management, evidence-based treatment, recovery services, and addiction s...
BCCSU Commitment for Truth and Reconciliation with Indigenous Peoples
June 21, 2020
The BCCSU is committed to the process of truth and reconciliation with Indigenous Peoples by recognizing and addressing the power imbalances and discriminations inherent to academic and health care institutional structures that are directly attributed colonization. Through the ongoing work of the three core functions of the BCCSU (research, educati...
