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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.
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:
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 has an integrated approach to reduce both the supply of and the demand for illicit drugs. You can find out more by reading about Canada's Drug Strategy. The Government of Canada has also recently released two reports on drugs, both of which have chapters on prevention and education.
Other national agencies dedicated to addressing the issue of problematic substance use include:
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Last Revised: December 17, 2007
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