WHEREAS addiction has been recognized as a medical issue rather than a moral failing; AND WHEREAS research has shown that harm reduction measures like needle exchange and safe consumption sites save lives and money by reducing the spread of HIVAIDS and other infectious diseases; AND WHEREAS the implementation of community-based harm reduction services is all to often treated as a political rather than a public health issue: THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the UBCM lobby the Province to legislate that base levels of harm reduction services, including needle exchange and access to safe substance use equipment and detox and treatment beds, be made available in every local government in British Columbia in order to ensure that political pressure does not limit access to necessary health services for those affected by problematic substance use and addiction problems, including adequate funding to support these services.
Ministry of Health Services The government of British Columbia recognizes that problematic substance use is a complex health problem. As such, it requires a comprehensive response, incorporating various evidence-based health system approaches in the domains of prevention, treatment, and harm reduction. BCs support for harm reduction services is reflected in several policies, including Every Door is the Right Door: a British Columbia Planning Framework to Address Problematic Substance Use and Addiction 2004; Harm Reduction: A British Columbia Guide 2005; Following the Evidence: Preventing Harms from Substance Use 2006; and Healthy Minds, Healthy People: A Ten-Year Plan to Address Mental Health and Substance Use in British Columbia 2010. Furthermore, the Province provides funding for harm reduction supply distribution to ensure that harm reduction supplies are available throughout the province. Health authorities are responsible for delivery of health services, including harm reduction programs, in their jurisdictions. Accordingly, health authorities work with key partners, such as local governments and law enforcement, to plan for appropriate service delivery for vulnerable populations requiring harm reduction services.