Substance Use News provides a monthly collection of news and resources on the social, medical and political responses to the toxic drug supply crisis and harm reduction. To get the latest toxic drug safety alerts, visit Info for People Who Use Substances page from Toward the Heart. Get weekly substance use news by subscribing to our newsletter: scroll to the bottom of the page to sign up. You can also visit our Substance Use and Harm Reduction page for more resources.
In the News
Drug-User Groups Fight BC Recriminalization in Court
Groups representing people who use drugs had their days in court from July 21-23, seeking to overturn a federal government decision to effectively end British Columbia’s decriminalization pilot less than halfway through its three-year run. The federal government’s decision to recriminalize drug possession in all BC public spaces was granted on May 7—less than a week after the provincial government applied for the sweeping changes. Lawyer Jack Ruttle said in federal court that Health Canada had a legal obligation to consult Indigenous groups and people who use drugs before making such a drastic change. (July 29, 2025)
‘No plans’ to renew safer supply funding after federal support quietly runs out
Dozens of safer supply pilot programs lost federal funding earlier this year and Ottawa says there are no plans to re-up its financial support. The goal of safer supply programs is to offer prescribed, safer alternatives to illegal street drugs like fentanyl. The federal government is still providing funding for a number of other harm-reduction and treatment initiatives. (July 29, 2025)
Overdoses increasing at Toronto drop-in centres since supervised consumption sites shut down, network says
Overdoses at drop-in centres in Toronto have sharply increased since the provincial government shut down four supervised consumption sites in April, according to a coalition of community agencies. This comes as Toronto Public Health (TPH) data shows fatal and non-fatal opioid overdose calls to paramedics are down in 2025 compared to the previous two years. But Melanie Joy, manager of the Toronto Drop-In Network, says TPH does not track overdoses that are happening in drop-in centres, in the community, or at the remaining supervised consumption sites that are still open. (July 25, 2025)
Why Dr. Mark Tyndall Is Taking a Stand for Tobacco Harm Reduction
The tobacco harm reduction movement has long needed doctors to unapologetically make the case that it’s a matter of life and death to get safer nicotine products to the most vulnerable groups of people who smoke. For Dr. Mark Tyndall, safer nicotine products are safe supply for people who smoke. In his book Vaping: Behind the Smoke and Fear, he argues that getting these products to the groups with the highest rates of smoking—people who use drugs, who are unhoused, who have mental health conditions—is a matter of health equity and social justice. (July 24, 2025)
Podcast of 2 friends in Sudbury shares their story of addiction and forgiveness
Two friends from Sudbury, Ont., hope their new video podcast can show people that it’s possible to come full circle from the lows of active addiction. Aptly titled Full Circle, Jamie-Lee Thibert and Melissa MacMillan talk about their unlikely friendship, with all of its ups and downs. (July 22, 2025)
Understanding brain injury: Strategies for Ontario harm reduction programs
People who use drugs and people who are unhoused are at greater risk for brain injury. This can result from traumatic brain injury from physical falls or violence, overdose-related oxygen deprivation or exposure to toxic drugs. They can affect various cognitive, behavioural, emotional and physical functions, including memory, attention, problem-solving and more. These pose unique challenges for individuals to be engaged in health and social services. This on-demand session from CATIE explores how these injuries impact people’s lives and how informed support can make a difference. (July 17, 2025)
International Overdose Awareness Day event to be held in Fort St. John
International Overdose Awareness Day is being organized for August 31st, International Overdose Awareness Day, at Festival Plaza in Fort St. John. The event in Fort St. John is being put on by a collaboration of various organizations around the city, including Moms Stop the Harm, a mother-based organization bringing about substance abuse awareness; Fort St. John Friendship Centre; Urban Systems; and the Nenan Dane Zaa Deh Zona Family Services Society. (July 9. 2025)
“With Open Arms” harm reduction toolkit supports First Nations youth
First Nations youth in BC now have access to the “With Open Arms” toolkit, a new resource that offers guidance on how to have courageous conversations about substance use, harm reduction and healing with friends. The toolkit was developed following the guidance and wisdom of a First Nations youth advisory committee (YAC), made up of nine committee members with lived or living experience with substance use. The content is organized into four key pillars, Wholistic Wellness & Prevention, Reducing Harm/Safer Use, Changing Relationships to Substance Use, and Creating Safer, More Supportive Communities. (July 7, 2025)
Does involuntary care work? Three BC residents share their personal stories
Involuntary care — forced hospitalization under the Mental Health Act — is controversial. It elicits strong opinions from people who say they’ve been either harmed or helped by the treatment, which the BC government is ramping up in an effort to tamp down violent acts by people struggling with mental illness and substance use. Three people share their stories. (July 7, 2025)
As DULF Prepares for Trial, Eris Nyx Calls for Direct Action Over “Policy Wish-Testing”
Nyx and Kalicum have filed a constitutional challenge with the BC Supreme Court, which may ultimately go to the Supreme Court of Canada. DULF’s legal approach invokes Sections 7 and 15 of the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms. They argue that not providing a safe supply to people at risk of overdose infringes upon Section 7, which guarantees life, liberty and security, and Section 15, which guarantees equality under the law and protection from discrimination. DULF is leaning on the medical recognition of substance use disorder to support the necessity of access to safe supply, when the unregulated street supply that people currently have access to is killing them. (July 1, 2025)
Education and Research
Characterizing changes to harm reduction site operations in British Columbia following the implementation of the decriminalization of drugs: Findings from a provincial survey
In January 2023, British Columbia (BC), Canada, piloted a three-year decriminalization policy to address the escalating overdose crisis. This study aimed to characterize HR site operations in BC and assess any operational changes following decriminalization. A cross-sectional, online self-report survey was distributed to HR sites across BC between March and April 2024.
Barriers and facilitators to injectable opioid agonist treatment engagement within a structural vulnerability context: a qualitative study of patient experiences in Vancouver, Canada
Amidst a sustained drug poisoning crisis, there is growing recognition in Canada of the need to expand injectable opioid agonist treatment (iOAT). This study examined patients’ experiences of barriers and facilitators to iOAT with attention to how social and structural factors (e.g., housing vulnerability, poverty) shape program engagement. The study draws on qualitative interviews and fieldwork observations with people accessing four iOAT programs in Vancouver’s Downtown Eastside neighbourhood from May 2018 to November 2019. Data included baseline and follow-up interviews and approximately 50 hours of observational fieldwork.
CATIE statement on the need for a spectrum of substance use services
This CATIE statement summarizes the evidence on the need for a spectrum of substance use services to support the health of people who use drugs. This CATIE statement was developed to support service providers and policy-makers to make informed decisions about the spectrum of substance use services. A diverse range of substance use services is essential to support the health of people who use drugs in Canada. The term substance use services refers to various programs that provide supports related to substance use. They include both harm reduction and treatment programs. These two types of programs are complementary components of the spectrum of substance use services, each playing vital roles. Services across this spectrum need to be widely available and easily accessible to meet community needs.
Visit the BC Centre for Disease Control’s Unregulated Drug Poisoning Emergency Dashboard for provincial data from different sources.
Visit the BC Centre on Substance Use for information on evidence-based approaches to substance use care and harm reduction.
Visit the National Safer Supply Community of Practice (NSS-CoP), whose goal is to scale up safer supply programs across Canada.
Visit the Canadian Institute for Substance Use Research site for research on aclohol and substance use.
Questions? Feedback? Get in touch. Janet Madsen, Capacity Building and Digital Communications Coordinator, [email protected]