British Columbia Premier David Eby is set to announce improvements to care for people living with complex mental health and addiction issues Wednesday afternoon.
Minister of Mental Health and Addictions Jennifer Whiteside and Minister of Health Adrian Dix will also join the premier at the announcement in Vancouver at 1 pm PST.
B.C.’s NDP government and its mental health and addictions programs have come under fire in recent months from people across the political spectrum.
In particular, the state’s approach to the harmful drug crisis and addiction sufferers has been criticized.
More than 14,400 people in British Columbia, including at least 126 children and youth, have died from the effects of toxic drugs since a provincial public health emergency was declared in April 2016. Indigenous people continue to be disproportionately affected by toxic drugs.
In March, B.C.’s auditor general determined that two government programs aimed at limiting deaths from the crisis were not “effectively implemented” by the ministry of health and the ministry of mental health and addictions.
In April, the state rescinded a drug decriminalization program it announced for January 2023, reaffirming the powers of police to seize drugs in places such as parks, bus stops and hospitals and arrest people who are using drugs.
Some people thought this was the right thing to do, but others felt it put lives at risk.
Meanwhile, British Columbia’s Safer Supply program, designed to give drug users non-toxic prescription alternatives to potentially toxic illegal drugs, has also sparked mixed reactions.
According to BC Mental Health and Substance User Services, someone with complex needs is someone who has a serious illness and other complicating factors that make them difficult to treat.
