The information presented in this section is meant to provide an overview of key issues and activities for each province and territory across Canada. Please help us to keep this section as comprehensive and up to date as possible by contacting us with your comments, revisions, updates and additions.
Key Substance Abuse-Related Agencies
Treatment Agencies in British Columbia
Provincial Drug Strategy or Framework
Substance Use Statistical Highlights for British Columbia
Key Guiding Documents
The purpose of the Centre for Addictions Research of British Columbia (CARBC) is to help build capacity for research programs that will support effective prevention and treatment responses in B.C. to harm from substance use, and to contribute to the development of effective policy in B.C.
The Centre disseminates accurate information on
- the nature and extent of substance use and related harm;
- evidence for "what works" in prevention, treatment and harm reduction.
The Centre is a partnership with B.C.'s larger universities. Its operations are supported by an administrative hub at the University of Victoria and a Communication and Resource Unit located in Vancouver. One of the first initiatives of the Communication and Resource Unit is the operations of the website: Substance Information Link.
The British Columbia Provincial Health Services Authority (PHSA) operates various provincial agencies, including BC Mental Health and Addiction Services (BCMHAS), which provides a diverse range of specialized, “one-of-a-kind”, tertiary-level mental health services to people across the province. Recognizing that people with mental health challenges may also have co-occurring issues with substance misuse, BCMHAS makes assessment and treatment of addictions an integral part of its programs.
In addition to providing direct services, BCMHAS takes a provincial leadership role, working with an extensive network of community partners as a support and resource to service providers throughout B.C. As well, the agency contributes significantly to research and knowledge exchange in the field of mental health.
Responsibility for resource allocation, policy direction and oversight of youth and adult addiction services lies with the Ministry of Health. Responsibility for youth justice addictions lies with Ministry of Children and Family Development. Health Authorities, Vancouver Coastal Health, Fraser Health, Interior Health, Northern Health and Vancouver Island Health are responsible for program spending and delivery of services for adult and youth addictions. These services are delivered directly by health authorities or by contracted community agencies.
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For information about the many treatment services available throughout British Columbia and how to contact them, refer to
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BC Planning Framework for Problematic Substance Use and Addiction (2004) [PDF]
The purpose of Every Door is the Right Door: A British Columbia Planning
Framework to Address Problematic Substance Use and Addiction is to assist health authorities and their partners to plan, implement and evaluate integrated and evidence-based responses to problematic substance use and mental disorders.
In particular, the Framework is intended to assist health authorities and communities to
- Assess their strengths, challenges and priorities in responding to problematic substance use and mental disorders;
- Develop integrated health service delivery plans;
- Work with partners to implement plans;
- Monitor progress, evaluate and plan improvements in service delivery.
In addition, the British Columbia Ministry of Health website for mental health and addictions provides linkages to several related drug strategies and frameworks.
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Substance Use Statistical Highlights for British Columbia
2004 Canadian Addiction Survey (CAS)
CAS Report Highlights, 2004[PDF]
CAS Detailed Report, 2005 [PDF]
Canadian Centre on Substance Abuse (CCSA)
Canadian Community Epidemiology Network on Drug Use (CCENDU) Provincial Data
Information on prevalence, enforcement, treatment, mortality, morbidity and HIV/AIDS/HCV broken down by province and territory.
Canadian Centre on Substance Abuse (CCSA) website
This is Not a Test: 2006 Vancouver Youth Drug Survey Results [PDF]
Vancouver Coastal Health (VCH), 2007
British Columbia: Youth Health Trends: A Retrospective: 1992-2003 [PDF]
McCreary Centre Society, 2005
Healthy Youth Development: Highlights from the 2003 Adolescent Health Survey III [PDF]
McCreary Centre Society, 2004
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A Community Guide: Strategies and Interventions for Dealing with Crystal Methamphetamine and Other Emerging Drug Trends [PDF]
Methamphetamine Task Group of the Fraser Health Addictions Services Planning Steering Committee, June 2005
Crystal Meth and Other Amphetamines: An Integrated BC Strategy [PDF]
Minister of State for Mental Health and Addiction Services, Government of British Columbia, August 2004
Every Door Is the Right Door: A British Columbia Planning Framework to Address Problematic Substance Use and Addiction [PDF]
Ministry of Health Services, Government of British Columbia, May 2004
Four Pillars Drug Strategy
City of Vancouver, undated
A Framework for Action: A Four-Pillar Approach to Drug Problems in Vancouver: Revised [PDF]
City of Vancouver, April 2001
Preventing Harm from Psychoactive Substance Use [PDF]
City of Vancouver Drug Policy Program, November 2005
Recognizing Strength, Building Capacity: Addressing Substance Abuse Related Special Needs in First Nations Communities of British Columbia's Hinterlands [PDF]
Centre of Excellence for Children and Adolescents with Special Needs and the Substance Abuse Task Force, University of Northern British Columbia, 2003
Crystal Meth and Other Amphetamines: An Integrated BC Strategy Six Month Progress Report [PDF]
Minister of State for Mental Health and Addiction Services, April 2005
Addressing Perinatal Depression: A Framework for BC's Health Authorities
BC Reproductive Mental Health Program: BC Women’s Hospital & Health Centre, an Agency of the Provincial Health Services Authority, July, 2006