In an effort to aid police in addressing public safety, the BC government is seeking federal permission to ban substance use in all public spaces.
The Province says this is being done in an effort to have substance users find support and treatment while using drugs at safe consumption sites rather than on the streets.
“Keeping people safe is our highest priority,” said Premier David Eby.
“While we are caring and compassionate for those struggling with addiction, we do not accept street disorder that makes communities feel unsafe.”
He continued by saying the government is working at expanding treatment options while simultaneously providing police with more resources to keep streets safe.
Specifically, police would have the power to enforce against drug use in all public places, including hospitals, restaurants, transit, parks and beaches.
Drug use in several of these areas was already explicitly illegal.
According to this new legislation, when police are called to a scene in which they determine people are using illicit drugs dangerously, they will have the power to tell the person to leave the area, seize the drugs or arrest the person.
Since January 31st, 2023, the Province had successfully decriminalized possession of small amounts of drugs in a harm reduction-informed effort to destigmatize those who use substances.
Related:
- BC has officially decriminalized possession of illicit drugs; here’s what you need to know
- BC recriminalizes the decriminalized with new drug-use legislation
- BC begins restricting drug decriminalization policy starting with playgrounds
Since that time, BC has subsequently been putting into place new legislation that bans the use of drugs in public spaces—this being the latest.
Despite these efforts to control where and how substance users consume illicit drugs, the toxic drug crisis and the deaths that stem from it continue.
According to data from the BC Coroners Service, most people who die of illicit drug use die while using alone and isolated from the public.
Since April 2016, when the public health emergency was activated in BC because of the crisis, over 14,208 British Columbians have lost their lives to toxic drugs.
The Province specifically noted in their announcement that this new legislation will not recriminalize drug possession while in a private residence, legal shelter, overdose prevention sites or drug testing location.
Substance use in hospitals
In the past few weeks there has been a lot of attention paid to drug usage in hospitals and whether or not it is condoned.
This all stemmed from a controversial memo that Island Health reportedly distributed to nurses which instructed them to not stop open use of illicit substances within the hospital.
Now, the government has made it clear that hospitals are not places in which people should be allowed to use substances not provided to them from hospital medical staff.
The new legislation also includes a prohibition on possession of any illicit drugs while inside a hospital.
The Province says this is in an effort to push substance users toward seeking treatment.
Additionally, the BC government says that patients with addictions will receive support and oversight by hospital staff to ensure they receive personalized care if experiencing withdrawal symptoms while their medical issues are being treated.
“Today, we are taking immediate action to make hospitals safer and ensuring policies are consistent and strictly enforced through additional security, public communication and staff supports,” said Adrian Dix, Minister of Health.
“The action plan launching today will improve how patients with addictions are supported while they need hospital care, while preventing others from being exposed to the second-hand effects of illicit drug use.”
New addictions treatment initiatives
In addition to this new legislation on where substances can and cannot be used, the Province says they will also be expanding access to addictions treatment.
Specifically, BC will be:
- Increasing availability and accessibility of opioid-agonist treatment (OAT) via a provincewide virtual system. This is a medication-assisted treatment for opioid-use disorder
- Integrating addictions services with health care, housing and related services
- Working with experts to track prescribed alternatives with the aim of preventing diversion
“People across the country are dying from poisoned drugs and B.C. is no exception,” said Jennifer Whiteside, Minister of Mental Health and Addictions.
“Addiction is a health-care issue, not a criminal one, and we’re going to keep doing everything we can to save lives and connect people to treatment.”
The Innovation Centre in Vancouver’s downtown eastside will also be the recipient of $25 million in funding as they provide intensive care services to a significant number of people with highly complex medical and psychosocial needs.
