Submission to the Select Standing Committee on Health – Drug Toxicity Crisis

Doctors of BC acknowledges the severe impact of the drug toxicity crisis and calls for a multi-pronged, coordinated approach to address the ongoing public health emergency in BC. To address this issue, Doctors of BC recommends enhancing coordination and improving access to community-based, culturally appropriate, and evidence-informed substance use prevention, harm reduction, and treatment programs and services. Additionally, Doctors of BC recommends supporting physicians who wish to participate in the provision of safer pharmaceutical alternatives, evaluating the impact of decriminalization and expanding engagement with doctors to receive input into the development, implementation, and evaluation of substance use programs and services.