BC Medical ProgramsFor medical stabilization (detox), methadone therapy, addiction medicine, etc.
BC outpatient -
Gov't-funded clinicsFor a referral to residential services or no-cost outpatient counselling.
Bc outpatient - private
practice therapistsFor fee-for-service outpatient addiction counselling (approx. $50 - $200 per hour).
bc residential -
adult treatmentLive-in programs for adults. Primary treatment (avg. stay 30 days) then Support Recovery (min. 6 months).
bc residential -
youth treatmentLive-in programs for youth (14 to 17 or 18 years of age).
bc residential -
native treatmentLive-in programs for First Nations or Inuit peoples (all ages).
bc meetings -
Alcoholics anonymousFor people who have a desire to stop drinking.
bc meetings -
AL-Anon and AL-ateenFor family members affected by a loved one's drinking.
bc meetings -
narcotics anonymousFor people who have a desire to stop using drugs.
bc meetings - other
alcohol & drug relatedIncludes LifeRing, Smart Recovery, Alano Clubs, Adult Children of Alcoholics, etc.
British Columbia is a province where government services for drug and alcohol addiction have been integrated with mental health services. Services are divided into regional health authorities and residents requiring addiction services are typically encouraged to utilize services in their own health authority before crossing boundaries into another health authority.
Addiction services in British Columbia have been shuffled between different ministries many times over the years and this process continues. This is in marked contrast to Alberta where drug and alcohol rehab programs have long been coordinated under one umbrella organization, AADAC. Currently, addiction services are provided by the Mental Health and Addictions Branch, Ministry of Health.
British Columbia is quietly developing into a destination for private residential drug rehab programs. British Columbia, particularly Vancouver and Victoria, is also a destination for the homeless due to a milder winter climate than the rest of Canada. As a result, Vancouver is often the first city in North America to experiment with new ways to help the homeless such as methadone maintenance (the world's first program started here in 1963), safe injection sites and needle exchange programs.
With Vancouver being the main Canadian gateway to the Pacific, heroin continues to be a problem in British Columbia. By 1998, there were an estimated 11,700 injection drug users in Greater Vancouver, with a large percentage living on the streets or in temporary housing in a few square blocks in the Downtown Eastside. According to a 2000 report by the City of Vancouver, the total number of overdose deaths in British Columbia had risen from 39 in 1988, to 331 in 1993. Since then, an average of 147 illicit overdose deaths have occurred per year in the city of Vancouver alone (source: Department of Justice December 4, 2001 News Release).
Finally, British Columbia is a major center for the marijuana trade. Per-capita marijuana use in British Columbia exceeds that of other Canadian provinces while "grow-ops" and organized crime continue to thrive.
Alcohol continues to be the drug of choice for most British Columbians. The province's decision to expand access through private liquor retailers with no additional allocation of resources to counselling services probably means that alcohol abuse will continue unabated.
QUICK FACTS
| Population (2006): |
4,310,500 |
| (13.2 % of Canadian population) |
| Major Metropolitan Areas (2006) (*) |
| Vancouver |
2,236,100 |
| Victoria |
334,300 |
| Abbotsford |
161,900 |
(*) Note: A metropolitan area must have over 100,000 people.
Source: Statistics Canada (2006). |
| Alcohol and Drug Prevalence Rates |
|
Alcohol - Heavy Frequent Use in Past Year (*)
(Canadian avg. 7.1%) |
7.3% |
Cannabis - Use in Past Year
(Canadian avg. 14.1%) |
16.8% |
Cocaine/Crack - Use in Past Year
(Canadian avg. 1.9%) |
2.6% |
| (*) Note: heavy frequent use means five drinks or more, more than once a week). Source: Canadian Centre on Substance Abuse (2004). Canadian Addiction Survey. |
PROVINCE-WIDE
Police, Fire, and Ambulance: 911
Alcohol and Drug Information & Referral Service: 1(800) 663-1441
Provincial Suicide Helpline: 1(800) 784-2433 (24 hours)
Health Services BC has a directory of hospitals in British Columbia.
Kids Help Phone counsellors provide children and adolescents with immediate and caring support, information and, if necessary, referral to a local community or social service agency.
Toll-free: (800)668-6868
Youth in BC
Phone: (604)872-3311 (Lower Mainland, 24 Hours)
Toll-free: (866)661-3311 (24 Hours)
Note: an organization staffed by counsellors and trained volunteers who are committed to helping youths in crisis.
LOWER MAINLAND AREA
Richmond Area
CHIMO Crisis Services
Phone: (604) 279-7070
Note: Serves Richmond, South Delta, Ladner, & Tsawwassen. Open 9 am to midnight.
Vancouver Area
Distress Line (for people in emotional crisis)
Phone: (604) 872-3311 (For Vancouver, North Vancouver city & district, Bowen Island, West Vancouver. Open 24 hours.)
Toll-Free: 1(866) 661-3311 (for Powell River, Sunshine Coast, Squamish, Whistler, Pemberton, Howe Sound. Open 24 hours.)
Chinese Help Lines
S.U.C.C.E.S.S. Chinese Help Lines
Phone: (604) 270-8233 (Cantonese)
Phone: (604) 270-8222 (Mandarin)
Note: open 10 am to 10 pm.
FRASER VALLEY AREA
Fraser Health Crisis Line
Phone: (604) 951-8855
Toll-Free: 1(877) 820-7444
Note: Open 24 hrs.
Central Fraser Valley Telecare Crisis Line (Abbotsford)
Phone: (604) 852-9099
Note: Open 24 hrs.
VANCOUVER ISLAND AREA
Vancouver Island Crisis Line
Phone: (250) 754-4447
Toll-Free: 1(888) 494-3888
Note: Open 24 hrs.
KUU-US Crisis Line Society
Phone: (250) 723-4050
Phone: (250) 723-2040 (Teen line)
Toll-Free: 1(800) 588-8717
Note: Serving Port Alberni,Ucluelet, Tofino, Bamfield, and West coast of Vancouver Island. Open 24 hours.
North Island Crisis & Counselling Centre Society (Port Hardy)
Phone: (250) 949-6033
Note: Open 24 hrs.
NORTHERN BC AREA
Northern B.C./Cariboo Area
Phone: (250) 563-1214 (Adult line. Open 24 hours)
Toll-Free: 1(888) 562-1214 (Adult line. Open 24 hours)
Phone: (250) 564-8336 (Youth line. Open 4 to 11 pm)
Toll-Free: 1(888) 564-8336 (Youth line. Open 4 to 11 pm)
Note: Crisis Prevention, Intervention and Information Centre for Northern BC (Prince George). Serves all of Northern BC north of Quesnel, except the Peace River country, Fraser Lake, Fort Fraser & Vanderhoof.
Williams Lake
Phone: (250) 398-8224
Note: Open 24 hours.
BC INTERIOR AREA
Okanagan/Kootenay
West Kootenay, Boundary Region
Phone: (250) 364-1718 (Trail, Rossland)
Toll-Free: 1(800) 515-6999 (West Kootenay and Boundary regions, including Nelson, Grand Forks, Castlegar, Christina Lake, New Denver, Nakusp and Salmo)
Note: Open 24 hours.
Vernon
Phone: (250) 545-2339
Note: Open 24 hours.
Salmon Arm
Phone: (250) 833-1488
Note: Open 24 hours.
Enderby
Phone: (250) 838-0880
Note: Open 24 hours.
Revelstoke
Phone; (250) 837-6601
Note: Open 24 hours.
Cranbrook
Phone: (250) 426-8407
Toll-Free: 1(800) 667-8407
Note: Also serving the entire east Kootenay region from Golden to the Alberta and USA borders through a 1-800 number. Open 24 hours.
Kelowna
Phone: (250) 763-9191
Note: Serves Kelowna, Westbank, Winfield, & Lake Country. Open 24 hours.
Penticton & area
Phone: (250) 493-6622
Note: Serves Penticton, Summerland, Oliver, Osoyoos, & Princeton. Open 24 hours.
The British Columbia Alcohol and Drug Information & Referral Service is available for people across the province needing help locating alcohol and drug rehab programs. This service is staffed 24 hours a day.
Phone: (604)660-9382 (Lower Mainland)
Toll-free: (800)663-1441 (elsewhere in BC)
BC Ministry of Health - Mental Health and Addictions delivers addictions and mental health services through the 5 regional health authorities.
Disclaimer: Inclusion or omission of an organization or agency in this database does not imply endorsement or non-endorsement by canadadrugrehab.ca. In no event shall canadadrugrehab.ca be liable for any decision or action taken in reliance on information provided by this referral service. Any questions regarding an alcohol and drug rehab program listing should be directed to that organization. If you believe you need immediate assistance, please call 911 or your local crisis hotline .
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