Sheila Malcolmson, Minister of Mental Health and Addictions, has released the following statement regarding the BC Coroners Service’s report on illicit drug toxicity deaths from January to June 2022:                                                                 

People with substance-use challenges living in Abbotsford and surrounding communities have better access to addiction medicine with the opening of the Fraser East Rapid Access to Addiction Care (RAAC) clinic.

Opioid manufacturer Purdue Pharma (Canada) (Purdue Canada) has agreed to a first of its kind settlement in Canada resulting from B.C.-led efforts to recover health-care costs related to the sale and marketing of opioid-based pain medicines.

Health-care and community social services workers throughout British Columbia will be able to access more mental-health supports as the province expands tailor-made programs for the sector.

People in Langley and Fraser South living with complex mental-health and substance-use challenges who are at risk of, or experiencing homelessness, will benefit as the Province adds 50 complex-care housing spaces in the region.

The Province is enhancing supports in order to provide even better crisis line services for British Columbians.

People working in the construction industry will benefit from life-saving harm-reduction training in the workplace, substance-use support groups and information on local community resources thanks to new provincial funding.

Sheila Malcolmson, Minister of Mental Health and Addictions, has issued the following year-end statement regarding mental-health supports during the holiday season: