Alternatives to Unregulated Drugs: Another Step In Saving Lives

Report
by
Henry, Bonnie et al

Release Date

2024

Geography

Canada

Language of Resource

English

Full Text Available

Yes

Open Access / OK to Reproduce

No

Peer Reviewed

No

Objective

This is a report from the Office of the Provincial Health Officer in British Columbia highlighting the urgent need to expand access to alternatives to unregulated drugs during the toxic drug crisis. 

Findings/Key points

Three main themes discussed in this report are: (1) Drivers of the unregulated drug emergency; (2) Alternatives to unregulated drugs - both prescribed and non-prescribed alternatives (3) Recommendations. Recommendations include increasing access and evaluating scalable models of prescribed and non-prescribed alternatives; Including PWUD in the planning, design, and implementation of policies; Increasing meaningful partnership with Indigenous communities on matters related to substance use and addressing issues related to rural and remote communities and urban or away-from-home Indigenous Peoples.

Keywords

About PWUD
Advocacy
Barriers and enablers
Clinical guidance
Equity
Evidence base
Harm reduction
Indigenous
Policy/Regulatory
Safer supply
Small/medium cities