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Ministry of Health

Problematic Substance Use Prevention

Problematic Substance Use Prevention seeks to prevent or reduce the problematic use and related harms of alcohol, prescription medications, illegal drugs and other psychoactive substances. The problematic use of alcohol or other drugs can lead to health problems for individuals, their families and friends. There are also consequences in the workplace and the community.

The McCreary Centre Society’s report, What a difference a year can make: Early alcohol and Marijuana use among 16 to 18 year old BC Students (PDF 3.1MB), uses data provided by the 10,000 16 to 18 year olds who completed the 2008 BC Adolescent Health Survey. The study shows that youth are waiting longer than their peers a decade ago to try these substances. It also examines the different health behaviours and outcomes between those who use alcohol or marijuana at 12 and younger and those who wait longer to try these substances.
With the goal of protecting British Columbians from harms related to psychoactive substance use, Following the Evidence: Preventing Harms from Substance Use in BC (PDF 919K) identifies key strategic directions for ministries, health authorities, local governments and agencies involved in the development of healthy public policy in BC.
In October 2005, the Ministry of Health released Harm Reduction: A British Columbia Community Guide (PDF 478K) a document outlining what harm reduction means and examples of how communities and municipalities can be partners in preventing and reducing harms from substance use.
In May 2004, the Ministry of Health released "Every Door is the Right Door: A British Columbia Planning Framework to Address Problematic Substance Use and Addiction" (PDF 1.6M)

Programs and services to prevent problematic substance use and/or substance dependence are available through health authorities, schools and community service agencies. To find out what services are available in your community, look in the blue pages of your local telephone book under public or community health or contact your regional Health Authority:

See also the Mental Health and Addictions Branch of the Ministry of Health.

Confidential information about alcohol and drug services is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week through the BC Alcohol and Drug Information and Referral Service.

  • Within the Lower Mainland, call (604) 660-9382
  • Toll-free elsewhere within BC, call 1-800-663-1441

Confidential health information and advice, including questions about substance dependence and prescription drugs, are also available through the BC NurseLine.

  • Within Greater Vancouver, call (604) 215-4700
  • Toll-free elsewhere within BC, call 1-866-215-4700
  • Deaf and hearing-impaired toll-free throughout BC, call 1-866-889-4700

A variety of provincial and regional problematic substance use prevention and education organizations can be accessed through the Internet, including:

The Centre for Addictions Research of BC (CARBC) is a provincial research network in partnership with the universities in British Columbia. Since the creation of the Centre in 2003, it has expanded relationships with organizations and researchers addressing the harms associated with addictions. CARBC has been contracted by the provincial government to research and compile reports on substance use and related harms in British Columbia.

National Harm Reduction Awards

"We have made progress on harm reduction, but there is much more we can do and these awards will help draw attention to the work being done by dedicated Canadians striving to find real, effective solutions," said British Columbia Premier Gordon Campbell.

The Kaiser Foundation, through the support of the Province of British Columbia, is undertaking a five-year awards program to recognize and salute individual and community cross-Canadian efforts to reduce the harms associated with substance use. Harm reduction focuses on keeping people safe and minimizing death, disease and injury associated with high risk behaviour, while recognizing the behaviour may continue despite the risks.

For more information on these awards, including award categories and nomination deadlines, see the Kaiser Awards site.

The Government of Canada is implementing a federal Anti-Drug Strategy that focuses on enforcement, treatment and prevention. Two federal government reports on drug policy are available here:

The National Framework for Action to Reduce the Harms Associated with Alcohol and Other Drugs and Substances in Canada is part of a more coordinated approach to addressing the harms associated with alcohol and other drugs and substances. The goal of the National Framework is for Canadians to live without the harms associated with alcohol and other drugs and substances.

Other national organizations dedicated to addressing the issue of problematic substance use include: