On April 14, 2016, Provincial Health Officer Dr. Perry Kendall declared a Public Health Emergency under the Public Health Act due to the unprecedented rise in deaths due to opioid overdoses in British Columbia. While significant improvements in care have been made since this declaration, the number of people dying in BC has continued to rise.

Improving access to appropriate and effective treatments and supports is critical to preventing toxic drug poisonings before they happen. Through the LOUD collaboratives, capability development within Community Action Teams, and substance use journey mapping sessions, we are supporting improvements in care for people who use opioids.

LOUD Collaboratives

Quality improvement initiatives focused on care for people who use opioids through increasing access to Opioid Agonist Therapy (OAT) in primary care and emergency department settings.

Community Action Teams

Community Action Teams are an integral part of responding to the overdose crisis in BC and our knowledge exchange aimed to accelerate local work through shared learning.

Journey Mapping

These mapping sessions explored the current state of treatment options and support for people with substance use concerns in primary care setting.

The Latest Substance Use Resources