Out of Harm’s Way: Innovation, Insight and Action to End the Toxic Drug Crisis

B.C. is eight years into a state of emergency with an unprecedented public health crisis killing between 150 and 200 British Columbians every single month. Two decades ago, that number of deaths as an annual total was enough to spark urgent calls to action from public health officials about the emerging opioid crisis. Now, the same number of deaths occur month after month – shattering families, devastating friends and work colleagues.

How did we get here? How are we responding, and what more needs to be done? This speaker series is bringing together experts including medical professionals, researchers, community service providers and people with lived experience to talk about what we’re currently doing to reduce overdose deaths, and what the barriers are to doing so much more.

Our Feb. 26 event, the second in our series (final event is March 26), will feature presentations on the services and interventions happening now in the Capital Region to reduce overdose deaths, and a lively dialogue with the experts on the evidence – and lack of evidence – for the various efforts locally and throughout BC aimed at stopping the overdose crisis. Our final event in March will focus on recovery and treatment, and will feature a dialogue among people with lived experience talking about what recovery looks like in their lives.

Toxic drug overdoses are now the No. 1 killer of people in BC ages 10 to 59. A drug overdose is now six times more likely to be the cause of death of a young person than any other kind of accidental death. Our province simply cannot continue to tolerate this tragic reality. Come learn from those whose expertise is rooted in their professional and personal experiences how we can curb the toll of this terrible crisis.

Category: Community | Local / Community