The British Columbia government is upping the ante in its fight against substance abuse and addictions.
Health Minister Terry Lake says the province will invest $3-million in addictions research and treatment, including funding for testing Vivitrol, a drug that can block the effects of heroin and alcohol.
In addition, doctors, nurse practitioners and addictions-care providers will receive more money for training on how to better treat patients suffering from substance abuse.
Earlier this year, Vancouver authorities expressed concern over a dramatic rise in police calls involving people with severe mental issues or substance abuse.
The province then introduced a new stabilization unit at a Vancouver’s St. Paul’s Hospital to treat people with addictions or severe mental illnesses.
Last year, a 15-year-study of drug use in Vancouver’s tenderloin Downtown Eastside district concluded that that harm reduction–not a war on drugs–had reduced illicit drug use and improved public safety in the area.
The report by the B.C. Centre for Excellence in HIV/AIDS found that from 1996 to 2011, fewer people were using drugs. It also said that of those who were, fewer were injecting drugs.
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