Illicit Drugs Overdose Crisis

This opportunity for engagement is now closed. Thank you to all who participated. See the Engagement Process & Outcomes panel on this page for details.

See here for information on further member engagement to inform policy development on Substance Use Care in BC.


Doctors of BC recognizes the severe impact that the overdose crisis has had on British Columbians. In March 2021, Doctors of BC's Council on Health Promotion (COHP) sought your input on several policy approaches then being discussed in the literature and by stakeholders, including:

  • Decriminalization - a policy approach that uses non-criminal measures, potentially including fines or administrative penalties, for particular actions or behaviours that would otherwise fall under the criminal justice system, such as the possession of drugs for personal use.
  • Safer supply - the provision of regulated mind/body altering substances that traditionally have only been available within the illegal market. This includes access to pharmaceutical alternatives to street drugs as part of a harm reduction approach.

The physician input shared via a survey and comment board helped inform actionable policy commitments and recommendations to government and stakeholders and our advocacy for systems-level changes that are urgently needed.


Doctors of BC recognizes the severe impact that the overdose crisis has had on British Columbians. In March 2021, Doctors of BC's Council on Health Promotion (COHP) sought your input on several policy approaches then being discussed in the literature and by stakeholders, including:

  • Decriminalization - a policy approach that uses non-criminal measures, potentially including fines or administrative penalties, for particular actions or behaviours that would otherwise fall under the criminal justice system, such as the possession of drugs for personal use.
  • Safer supply - the provision of regulated mind/body altering substances that traditionally have only been available within the illegal market. This includes access to pharmaceutical alternatives to street drugs as part of a harm reduction approach.

The physician input shared via a survey and comment board helped inform actionable policy commitments and recommendations to government and stakeholders and our advocacy for systems-level changes that are urgently needed.