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
Stigma by Association Is Driving Workers Out of Harm Reduction
Everyone knows about the stigma faced by people who use drugs. What’s far less visible is the stigma experienced by the people who support them: the harm reduction workers, counselors, outreach staff, nurses and peer workers who show up every day in a landscape still steeped in social judgment. This is contributing to burnout, chronic stress, social distress and the loss of skilled staff from a sector that simply cannot afford to lose them.
Expanded supports coming for Surrey youth with new Foundry
More young people in Surrey have better access to essential mental-health and substance-use services with the opening of Foundry Surrey Central on Monday, Nov. 17, 2025. The new Foundry centre will be located at 10280 City Parkway in Surrey and services can be accessed in person or virtually through the Foundry BC app. Foundry Surrey Central will be operated by Pacific Community Resources Society and will provide free, confidential and low-barrier mental-health and substance-use support for youth 12-24.
Moms Stop the Harm Advocacy Spotlight: Jane McCormick
Moms Stop the Harm (MSTH) likes to highlight some of the members and advocates from across Canada. MSTH members do incredible work in their communities to raise awareness of the drug poisoning crisis in different ways. Some facilitate our peer support groups Holding Hope and our peer bereavement support groups Healing Hearts, while others work in advocacy for MSTH in their communities and provinces.
Drug User Liberation Front (DULF) founders found guilty of drug trafficking
A BC Supreme Court judge ruled last Friday that founders of the compassion club have been found guilty of drug trafficking. However, the criminal convictions will be suspended until a constitutional challenge (filed by DULF) has been resolved.
Research and Education
Estimating how many people in Canada inject drugs
People who inject drugs that are not prescribed to them often experience complex health challenges and have a difficult time accessing healthcare. To make sure we can provide the services and resources that better support this community, we first need to know how big the community is and where they live. That’s why the Public Health Agency of Canada has created the report, Estimating the population size of people who inject drugs in Canada.
How alcohol exposure can cause brain damage in offspring
Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders (FASD), a leading cause of neurodevelopmental disorders, may affect as many as 1 in 20 school-aged children in the United States. Despite its prevalence, the exact brain circuit responsible for FASD’s hallmark symptom—cognitive inflexibility, or the inability to adjust thoughts and behaviors to new environments—has largely remained a mystery. A new study observed that alcohol consumption both during pregnancy and around the time of birth significantly impairs an offspring’s brain development—particularly in regions that govern decision-making—while also increasing the risk of compulsive alcohol use later in life.
Drug decriminalization: a co-designed study outlining the implications for providers of youth services
Death by drug toxicity is now the leading cause of death among youth in British Columbia (BC). In January 2023, BC implemented decriminalization for personal possession (2.5 g) of certain substances for individuals 18 and over. This research aimed to gain a deeper understanding of service providers who work with youth (ages 15–24). Specifically, the study aimed to explore: (1) their attitudes and beliefs regarding drug decriminalization, and (2) the knowledge and resources they need to effectively discuss drug decriminalization with their clients.
Exploring disparities: a regional analysis of harm reduction supply distribution and opioid-related deaths across Ontario’s Public Health Units
It is critical that a range of harm reduction supplies are available through Ontario’s Public Health Units (PHU) to meet the varying needs of people who use drugs. Researchers assessed geographic variation in opioid-related deaths and the distribution of these harm reduction supplies among 34 PHUs in Ontario, Canada.
Canada’s youth are part of the opioid crisis and need treatment
In British Columbia, unregulated drug toxicity became the leading cause of death among 15- to 18-year-olds in 2021. The problem runs deeper than the toxic supply. Early-onset initiation and escalation of opioid use among youth is being overlooked. If this crisis is not properly addressed now, Canada’s health systems will play a part in perpetuating the opioid crisis for decades to come.
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. Emily Taylor-Lariviere, [email protected]