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By Tommy Osborne

Drug Crisis

MP Taylor Bachrach calling for more supports amid toxic drug crisis

Oct 2, 2024 | 5:57 PM

NORTHERN B.C. – MP for Skeena-Bulkley Valley Taylor Bachrach is calling on the federal government for more support for Northern B.C. First Nations communities amid the ongoing toxic drug crisis.

“(When) talking to First Nations leaders in the northwest and municipal leaders, one of the things that is desperately needed is detox and treatment facilities, so that people in the north can access those services in the north. Far too often, what we’re hearing about is people who are ready to seek treatment, are put on waitlists, and they have to travel as far as the lower mainland in order to access detox and treatment. That’s simply not acceptable. We need to remove those barriers and ensure that there’s culturally safe detox and treatment services in the northwest,” Bachrach says.

While the need for detox and care centres in the north is evident, Bachrach explains that isn’t the only component to this, as he also highlights that transportation and transit is a must so people can easily travel between communities when needed.

“We haven’t had Greyhound service in the north for a number of years, and for many remote communities, getting people to treatments and services is one of the challenges that they face,” he said.

The toxic drug crisis has been an ongoing and serious problem, and street drugs being commonly laced with things like fentanyl over the last couple of years has only made this situation worse. With the situation escalating, Bachrach believes action needs to be taken quickly to ensure we can prevent the loss of more lives.

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“That’s why we need a multifaceted, evidence based approach that sees this as the health crisis that it is and ensures that, first of all, people don’t needlessly lose their lives because they’re exposed to these toxic drugs. And secondly, that those people who are ready for treatment have access to treatment on demand, and if we can have those two prongs, the health supports in place and access to treatment services and detox, I think that the problem can be addressed over the coming months and years, but we need the federal government to come to the table,” he said.

Bachrach added he has seen the provincial government already making investments and says these are really important steps, as well as commending the Northern First Nations Alliance for the years of work they’ve put into developing a plan of the concept of a culturally safe detox and treatment facility.

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