Improving Substance Use Care and Prevention in BC - A policy paper by Doctors of BC 2024

February 2024
Mental Health and Substance Use | Policy Paper
Link 1.07 MB

Our 2009 policy paper, Stepping Forward: Improving Addiction Care in British Columbia, outlined Doctors of BC’s position on substance use care. While many of the calls to action in that paper still apply, the substance use landscape has shifted dramatically since 2009. Widespread access to quality care remains limited, and health outcomes for harmful substance use continue to deteriorate. As such, this paper builds on our 2009 policy paper and expands on its recommendations to build a better substance use system of care that reduces stigma, prevents, or minimizes substance use harms, and enables all British Columbians to access the care and services they need when and where they need it.

Gender Equity in the Medical Profession

January 2023
Professional Satisfaction | Policy Statement
Link 211.5 KB

Doctors of BC recognizes that gender inequity is a societal issue that affects female physicians negatively in areas like income, career advancement, mental health, and job satisfaction. We commit to taking action on this issue by tracking gender representation in the association, supporting efforts to address the gender pay gap, applying GBA+ in decision-making, reviewing parental leave benefits, and helping members access resources mentorship and leadership opportunities. Doctors of BC recommends that government, physician employers, and medical schools take similar actions to identify, resolve, and prevent gender inequity and address issues of bias and discrimination in the workplace and medical training.

 

Reaching Out: Supporting Youth Mental Health in British Columbia

September 2014
Mental Health and Substance Use | Policy Paper
Link 900.76 KB

Doctors of BC Position: In order to address the unique challenges related to youth mental health Doctors of BC recommends increasing awareness of available youth-related mental health resources, involving family physicians in helping youth with mental health concerns, and collaboration by key stakeholders to improve capacity and accessibility of mental health services.

Stepping Out of the Shadows: Collaborating to Improve Services for Patients with Depression

August 2009
Mental Health and Substance Use | Policy Paper
Link 2.13 MB

Doctors of BC Position: In order to help individuals suffering from depression and addiction Doctors of BC policy supports a collaborative approach among stakeholders to provide adequate service funding, reduce barriers to treatment, develop effective physician education, expand research capacity and continue to explore innovative improvements in quality of care.

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.

Your Attention Please: Improving Access for ADHD Patients

February 2009
Mental Health and Substance Use | Policy Paper
Link 362.95 KB

Doctors of BC Position: Doctors of BC supports improved care for ADHD patients. Recommendations include developing a strategic plan for ADHD service delivery, supporting youth with ADHD in transitioning to adult care, reducing wait times for ADHD services, supporting collaborative care arrangements for ADHD patients, increasing access to ADHD medication, and utilizing ADHD practice guidelines.

Supporting Community-based Overdose Prevention Services

January 2005
Mental Health and Substance Use | Resolution

Doctors of BC Position: Doctors of BC supports community-based programs that offer naloxone and other opioid overdose prevention services. Doctors of BC also encourages education of health workers and opioid users about the use of naloxone in preventing overdose fatalities.