Whereas it has been two years since BC declared a public-health emergency due to increased overdoses, yet the death toll for those consuming substances continues to rise due to an unpredictable and highlytoxic drug supply; And whereas people with opioid use disorder, a chronic relapsing medical condition, are at high risk of overdoserelated harms including death and an estimated 42,200 people inject toxic substances in British Columbia, it is not possible for the treatment system to rapidly increase services fast enough to manage this number of people as patients within a medical treatment model given the many challenges in achieving and retaining the people on opioid use disorder treatment, people at risk of overdose in British Columbia do not have access to a safer alternative to the unpredictable, highlytoxic drug supply: Therefore be it resolved that in an effort to save lives and reduce harm due to an unpredictable and highlytoxic drug supply, and as part of a holistic response to the publichealth emergency, including prevention, treatment, and recovery, that the Province of British Columbia work with local communities, Health Authorities across the Province, the Ministry of Mental Health and Addictions, and the Ministry of Health ensure that people at risk of overdose harm have access to safer alternatives.
Ministry of Mental Health and Addictions Government is working diligently to support the healthcare needs of all British Columbians as the province finds itself in the midst of two public health emergencies the overdose crisis and the COVID-19 pandemic. On March 26, 2020 the Province released interim clinical guidelines created by the BC Centre on Substance Use for healthcare professionals to help reduce the risks - withdrawal, overdose, infection, and other harms to people who use drugs, a vulnerable and often-immune compromised population. The guidance supports people who are at risk of COVID-19 infection, people who have a confirmed infection or a suspected case pending diagnosis, and people who have a history of substance use, including opioids, stimulants, alcohol, benzodiazepines, or tobacco. Ministry staff are working with the BC Centre on Substance Use, health authorities, the College of Physicians and Surgeons of BC, the College of Nurses and Nurse Practitioners of BC, the College of Pharmacists of BC, as well as supportive housing providers, community agencies and peers to ensure implementation of the guidelines so that people at risk of increased harm due to the overdose crisis and COVID-19 pandemic have access to pharmaceutical alternatives to the unpredictable and highly toxic drug supply.