NEWS RELEASE
August 29, 2019
Ministerial Order for Heroin Buyer Clubs Needed Immediately
In recognition of International Overdose Awareness Day on August 31st, the BC/Yukon Association of Drug War Survivors (BCYADWS) requests the provincial government immediately enact a new Ministerial Order to facilitate the rapid implementation of heroin buyer clubs in British Columbia.
This action is within the context of the public health emergency declared in April 2016, and follows the successful Ministerial Order in December 2016 that facilitated the immediate implementation of overdose prevention sites. Similar to the 2016 Order, this action is urgently required while waiting for longer-term proposals that are dependent on federal exemptions or legislative changes. Please find below a draft Ministerial Order for consideration.
Our request to the Hon. Judy Darcy and the BC Ministry of Mental Health & Addictions reflects both the current evidence and policy directives of the Province, the Provincial Health Officer, the BC Centre on Substance Use (BCCSU) and many other organizations. This evidence includes the BCCSU’s white paper on heroin compassion clubs, the Provincial Health Officer’s report Stopping the harm: Decriminalization of people who use drugs in BC, the Canadian Association of People Who Use Drugs’ (CAPUD) concept paper on safe supply, among others.
“It is inexcusable for the Province to have the power to sign this Ministerial Order and not follow through knowing the evidence and the devastating loss in our province and beyond,” says Hawkfeather Peterson, BCYADWS board member.
According to Bruce Wallace, a Scientist with the Canadian Institute for Substance Use Research (CISUR) at the University of Victoria, “As we have published, BC’s legislative process to implement OPS was unprecedented and provides an international example of how to proceed with extraordinary measures under a declared public-health emergency. The 2016 Ministerial Order immediately enabled services that were state-sanctioned and government-directed, yet community-defined, with drug user groups centred in the service design, implementation and delivery.’”
International Overdose Awareness Day is promoted as a “Time to Remember, Time to Act”. We are requesting this action, because remembering is not enough. “Purple ribbons and mourning those we have lost is very important, and the best way to honour our loved ones and those lost is to prevent further losses. We owe it to the thousands of people who have died in BC and those who are left to remember,” says BCYADWS President Kevin Donaghy.
BC is a world leader in harm reduction and the province has been among the most responsive and progressive jurisdictions in North America. Drug user groups from BC are recognized innovators and leaders in implementing harm reduction innovations. This is the time for the Province to act so we can act.
Please find attached a copy of the proposed Ministerial Order and the original 2016 Ministerial Order.
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Media contacts:
Kevin Donaghy, BCYADWS: 250-516-8157 newleafnanaimo@gmail.com
Hawkfeather Peterson, BCYADWS: (604)747-2878 hawkfeather333@gmail.com
Bruce Wallace, CISUR: 250-889-9267 (barclay@uvic.ca)
About BC/Yukon Association of Drug War Survivors (BCYADWS)
BCYADWS is a grassroots democratic organization of drug users and former users who work to improve the lives of people who use illicit drugs through user-based peer support and education.
About International Overdose Awareness Day
Observed on the 31st of August every year, International Overdose Awareness Day (IOAD) seeks to create better understanding of overdose, reduce the stigma of drug-related deaths, and create change that reduces the harms associated with drug use.
Proposed Ministerial Order:
PROVINCE OF BRITISH COLUMBIA Ministerial Order No.
ORDER OF THE MINISTER OF MENTAL HEALTH AND ADDICTIONS
Emergency Health Services Act
I, Judy Darcy, Minister of Mental Health and Addictions, as per my authority under section 5.2 of the Emergency Health Services Act and section 7.1 of the Health Authorities Act, order British Columbia Emergency Health Services and the regional health boards to provide, on the advice of the provincial health officer, during the public health emergency declared under the Public Health Act on April 14, 2016, drug buyer clubs for the purpose of accessing and storing bulk purchased drugs and distributing in personal amounts, and with revenue designated for in-house operations and supports, as ancillary health services, in any place there is a need for these services, as determined by the level of overdose related morbidity and mortality.
Date
Name
(This part is for administrative purposes only and is not part of the Order.)
Authority under which Order is made:
Act and section:- Emergency Health Services Act, s.5.2
Other (specify):- Health Authorities Act, s. 7.1
Previous (2016) Ministerial Order:
PROVINCE OF BRITISH COLUMBIA Ministerial Order No. M 488
ORDER OF THE MINISTER OF HEALTH
Emergency Health Services Act
I, Terry Lake, Minister of Health, as per my authority under section 5.2 of the Emergency Health Services Act and section 7.1 of the Health Authorities Act, order British Columbia Emergency Health Services and the regional health boards to provide, on the advice of the provincial health officer, during the public health emergency declared under the Public Health Act on April 14, 2016, overdose prevention services for the purpose of monitoring persons who are at risk of overdose, and providing rapid intervention as and when necessary, as ancillary health services, in any place there is a need for these services, as determined by the level of overdose related morbidity and mortality.
December 9, 2016
Terry Lake, Minister of Health
(This part is for administrative purposes only and is not part of the Order.)
Authority under which Order is made:
Act and section:- Emergency Health Services Act, s.5.2
Other (specify):- Health Authorities Act, s. 7.1
