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

August 2022
Mental Health and Substance Use | Policy Submission
Link 78.92 KB

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.

Illicit Drugs Toxicity/Overdose Crisis

June 2021
Mental Health and Substance Use | Policy Statement
Link 165.76 KB

Doctors of BC Position: To prevent drug toxicity injuries and deaths, Doctors of BC supports a multi-pronged approach based on the principles of harm reduction, prevention, treatment, and enforcement. Doctors of BC supports decriminalization of simple possession of controlled substances for personal use, enhanced coordination and access to services, and increased efforts to separate people from the toxic, illicit drug supply.

Stepping Forward: Improving Addiction Care in British Columbia

March 2009
Mental Health and Substance Use | Policy Paper
Link 2.66 MB

Doctors of BC Position: Doctors of BC calls on the Premier and the Minister of Health to formally recognize addiction as a chronic disease and increase resources for addiction treatment and care in BC over the next 5 years. Addiction care infrastructure must be a priority in 2009, and the province must create 240 new detoxification spaces and 600 new addiction treatment beds by 2012.

Open Mind: Mental Health Tools and Resources

January 2005
Mental Health and Substance Use | Policy Paper

OpenMindBC.ca presents a valuable resource for physicians, parents, teachers, and youth to learn more about the mental health support services that are available in British Columbia and across Canada.

https://openmindbc.ca/