Canucks help fight stigma of addiction in new public awareness campaign
VANCOUVER — NHL players have supported teammates through substance use, and now it’s time for the Vancouver Canucks to acknowledge fans battling their own addiction issues, retired goalie Kirk McLean says.
McLean is the ambassador of an awareness campaign the Canucks announced Monday by placing two ads around Rogers Arena. They each feature a man and a woman and the tagline: “People who use drugs are real people. Get involved. Get informed. Get help.”
The campaign is in partnership with the province’s Mental Health and Addictions Ministry, which will also include messages on television, social media and billboards.
British Columbia declared a public health emergency in 2016 because of an unprecedented number of overdose deaths.