Overdose emergency
In April 2016, BC’s Provincial Health Officer declared a public health emergency due to the rising number of drug overdose deaths in BC. Illicit drug overdose deaths in BC (PDF) have risen from roughly 200/year in 2010, to over 1700/year in 2020.
This has been primarily driven by the introduction of fentanyl, and fentanyl analogues, into the illicit drug supply. Fentanyl is a highly potent synthetic opioid that has largely replaced heroin, because it is much cheaper to produce. Its high potency, combined with substandard processing on the black market, make dosing highly unpredictable.
The COVID-19 pandemic has exacerbated the overdose emergency. COVID-19 restrictions have further disrupted the black market drug supply, leading to even more unpredictability for consumers, while physical distancing recommendations and concerns about COVID-19 infection have led some people who use drugs to feel less safe seeking health services or peer support.
This page provides key information for people who use drugs, families, health care workers, and community partners regarding substance use, overdose recognition and response, harm reduction and treatment services, and other related topics.
News and data
British Columbia has been granted an exemption under the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act to remove criminal penalties for drug law violations (i.e. possession for personal use). In that capacity, adults 18 and older in BC will be permitted to possess up to 2.5 grams of illicit substances, and will not be liable for fines, arrest or drug seizures. This exemption will be in effect from Jan. 31, 2023, to Jan. 31, 2026, throughout British Columbia. For more information please see Decriminalizing people who use drugs in BC – Government of BC.
- BC coroners reports (see Drugs section)
- Northern Health overdose prevention and response: Regional update (January 2022)
- Previous update (May 2021)
- Overdoses in Northern BC (Updated: February 9, 2022)
- Overdoses in all of BC
Recognize and respond to an overdose
Services:
- Treatment and Recovery Programs in BC - British Columbia Centre for Substance Use
- Opioid Agonist Treatment (OAT) - Find an OAT clinic that is accepting patients
Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR) drug checking
Community | Site address |
---|---|
Prince George | The POUNDS Project Address: 1126 3rd Ave Hours: 5 days a week, 11 am to 6 pm Wednesday to Sunday (closed Mondays and Tuesdays) Additional details: We can be contacted through our Facebook page |
Terrace | Terrace Northwest Intensive Case Management Team (ICMT) Address: Stepping Stones Building, 101-4450 Greig Ave Hours: Four days a week, 8:30 am to 4 pm Monday to Tuesday and Thursday to Friday |
For more information on drug checking:
- Drug checking BC
- New drug checking machine now available in Prince George
- New drug checking machine now available in Terrace
Fentanyl strip drug checking
Community | Site address |
---|---|
Daajing Giids (formerly the Village of Queen Charlotte) | Haida Gwaii Hospital and Health Center Address: 3209 Oceanview Dr. Phone: 250-559-4900 |
Fort Nelson | Fort Nelson Aboriginal Friendship Society Address: 5012 49th Ave. Phone: 250-774-2993 Riggs Safety Address: 5420 50th Ave. Phone: 250-321-3267 |
Fort St. John | Fort St John Women’s Resource Center Address: 10051 100 Ave. Phone: 250-787-1121 |
Hazelton | Hazelton Health Center Address: 2510 HWY 62 Phone: 250-842-4640 |
Houston | Houston Health Center Address: 3202 14 Street Phone: 250-845-2294 |
Masset | Northern Haida Gwaii Hospital and Health Centre Address: 2520 Harrison Ave Phone: 250-626-4700 |
Prince George | Prince George Aids Prevention Program Address: 277 George St. Phone: 250-645-3811 |
Quesnel | Quesnel CSUN peer organization Address: #3 445 Anderson Dr. Phone: 250-991-0091 |
Smithers | Smithers Positive Living North Address: 3862 Broadway Ave. Phone: 250-877-0042 Specialized Mental Health and Substance Use Outreach Team 3862 Broadway Ave. Phone: 250-643-7456 |
Terrace | Terrace Health Unit Address: 3412 Kalum Street Phone: 250-631-4200 |
Please refer to the following resources by community who can assist you:
Chetwynd:
- Chetwynd Primary Health
Phone: 250-778-7300
Dawson Creek:
- Dawson Creek Mental Health and Addictions
Phone: 250-719-6525
Dease Lake:
- Dease Lake Health Centre
Phone: 250-771-4444
Fort Nelson:
- Fort Nelson Health Unit
Phone: 250-774-7092
Fort St. James:
- Fort St. James Health Centre
Phone: 250-996-2700
Fort St. John:
- Fort St. John Specialized Service
Phone: 250-263-6005
Fax: 250-785-0555
Houston:
- Houston Health Centre
Phone: 250-845-2295
Mackenzie:
- Mackenzie and District Hospital and Health Centre
Phone: 250-997-4342
Mcbride:
- Valemount Health Clinic
Phone: 250-566-9138
Prince George:
- Central Interior Native Health Society
Phone: 250-564-4422 - Opioid Substitution Treatment Program
Phone: 250-645-7400 - Needle Exchange OAT Clinic
Phone: 250-645-3811
Prince Rupert:
- Prince Rupert Community Health
Phone: 250-622-6380
Quesnel:
- Westside Mental Health and Addictions
Phone: 250-992-5189
Smithers:
- Smithers Healthy Living Centre
Phone: 250-847-6234
Terrace:
- Terrace Community Health
Phone: 250-631-7145
Valemount:
- Valemount Health Clinic
Phone: 250-566-9138
Vanderhoof:
- Vanderhoof Community Services
Phone: 250-567-6900
Dawson Creek
- Updated information coming soon
Fort St. John
-
Fort St. John Mobile OPS
Morning location: Alliance Church parking lot
Address: 9804 99th Ave, Fort St. John, BC
Monday to Friday, 9 am to 12 pm
Afternoon location: FNHA parking lot
Address: 10130 100th Ave, Fort St. John, BC
Monday to Friday, 1 pm to 4 pm
Prince George
- Prince George Needle Exchange
Address: 277 George St, Prince George, BC, V2L 1R1
Phone: 250-645-3810
Monday to Saturday, 9 am to 11:30 am, and 1:15 pm to 6:30 pm
Nursing services by appointment, 9 am to 11:30 am, with open clinic hours from 1:15 pm to 6:30 pm
- Mobile Harm Reduction Supplies (the Wellness Truck)
Monday to Saturday, 7 pm to 11:30 pm
Quesnel
- CSUN
Address: 3-445 Anderson Dr, Quesnel, BC
Friday to Wednesday, 4 pm to 10 pm
- Quesnel Specialized Services
Address: 395 Elliott St, Quesnel, BC
Monday to Friday, 11 am to 7 pm (excluding holidays)
Terrace
- Terrace Intensive Case Management Team
Address: 101-4450 Greig Ave, Terrace, BC (Stepping Stones Building)
Phone: 250-631-4647
Monday to Friday, 12 pm to 4 pm (excluding holidays)
- Family and caregiver resources (BC Centre on Substance Use)
- Family support (Moms Stop the Harm)
- Child and youth mental health and substance use resources for families (PDF) - Northern Health
- Take Home Naloxone / Harm Reduction Supplies Locator
- If you cannot find a site in the locator, contact your local health unit
- Children and youth substance use - BC Children’s Hospital - Kelty Mental Health Resource Centre
- A parent's guide to understanding opioid use by youth (PDF) - Drug Free Kids Canada
- Get support - Foundry BC
- COVID-19 mental health and substance use resources (PDF) - Northern Health
Safer substance use
Follow these tips to reduce your risk of overdose:
- Don't use alone
- Start with a small amount
- Mixing substances, including alcohol, increases risk of overdose
- Use where help is easily available (e.g. around other people)
- Use less. If you took a break, were in detox/treatment or jail, or are new to use, your tolerance is lower
- If you have ever experienced an overdose, this may increase your risk to overdose again
- Make a plan/know how to respond in case of an overdose
- Get the Lifeguard APP (BC Govt)
Information for health professionals
Health professionals and service providers have a vital role in overdose prevention and response. This area contains links to trusted resources and information to help those working to save lives and reduce harms.
- BCCSU training opportunities - BC Centre on Substance Use
- NH stigma reduction modules - Northern Health Learning Hub
- Information for professionals - Toward the Heart
Stigma reduction
- Stop Stigma, Save Lives Campaign - Northern Health
- Combatting Stigma across BC - BC Govt
Information from other organizations
- Overdose prevention and harm reduction: Get informed - FNHA
- Harm reduction services - BCCDC
- BC Centre on substance use - BCCSU
- Overdose prevention and response in BC - BC Govt
- Stop overdose - BC Govt
Peer support resources
The involvement of people with lived or living experience of drug use (Peers) is a critical component of effective overdose prevention work. A network has been established to support connection between Peers in the North, and to enable engagement with health care service providers. For more information, please contact Peer.Network@northernhealth.ca