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Ask the candidates: What needs to happen to address drug crisis?

Linda Larson is the BC Liberal candidate in the Boundary-Similkameen riding
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Boundary-Similkameen BC Liberal candidate Linda Larson.

2016 was a year of needless deaths from opioid overdoses, particularly with the rise of illicit fentanyl and carfentanil across Canada. Every one of these preventable deaths reminds us that no one is spare from the danger of these toxic drugs, or the suffering of addiction. Here in B.C., we have led the country in our response to this crisis with the following actions:

Invested $100 million to fund a comprehensive acute and long term strategy to combat the overdose crisis, spearheaded by our health and criminal justice Expert Joint Task Force.

Established a first of its kind BC Centre on Substance Use, to provide world-class research and clinical guidance under the direction of leading addictions expert, Dr. Evan Wood.

Increased access and coverage for opioid substitute treatments like suboxone so addicts can safely transition off of illicit drugs.

Met our 500-treatment bed commitment and provided an additional $10 million to give up to 240 people residential and intensive out-patient recovery services

Distributed over 30,000 no charge Naloxone kits, a key antidote that immediately reverses an overdose.