Directory of British Columbia Alcohol and Drug Rehab Programs

Select Your Municipality 100 Mile House, District of Abbotsford, City of Agassiz Alert Bay, Village of Anahim Lake Anmore, Village of Armstrong, City of Ashcroft, Village of Belcarra, Village of Bella Bella Bella Coola Bowen Island Municipality Burnaby, City of Burns Lake, Village of Cache Creek, Village of Campbell River, City of Canal Flats Castlegar, City of Central Saanich, District of Chase, Village of Chetwynd, District of Chilliwack, City of Clinton, Village of Coldstream, District of Colwood, City of Comox, Town of Coquitlam, City of Courtenay, City of Cranbrook, City of Creston, Town of Cumberland, Village of Dawson Creek, City of Delta, District of Duncan, City of Elkford, District of Enderby, City of Esquimalt, Township of Fernie, City of Fort Nelson, Town of Fort St. James, District of Fort St. John, City of Fraser Lake, Village of Fruitvale, Village of Gibsons, Town of Golden, Town of Gold River, Village of Grand Forks, City of Granisle, Village of Greenwood, City of Harrison Hot Springs, Village of Hazelton, Village of Hope, District of Houston, District of Hudson's Hope, District of Invermere, District of Kamloops, City of Kaslo, Village of Kelowna, City of Keremeos, Village of Kimberley, City of Kitimat, District of Ladysmith, Town of Lake Country, District of Lake Cowichan, Town of Langford, City of Langley, City of Lantzville, District of Lillooet, District of Lions Bay, Village of Logan Lake, District of Lumby, Village of Lytton, Village of Mackenzie, District of Maple Ridge, District of Masset, Village of McBride, Village of Merritt, City of Metchosin, District of Midway, Village of Mission, District of Montrose, Village of Nakusp, Village of Nanaimo, City of Nelson, City of New Denver, Village of New Hazelton, District of New Westminster, City of North Cowichan, District of North Saanich, District of North Vancouver, City of Oak Bay, District of Oliver, Town of Osoyoos, Town of Parksville, City of Peachland, District of Pemberton, Village of Penticton, City of Pitt Meadows, City of Port Alberni, City of Port Alice, Village of Port Clements, Village of Port Coquitlam, City of Port Edward, District of Port Hardy, District of Port McNeill, Town of Port Moody, City of Powell River, City of Prince George, City of Prince Rupert, City of Princeton, Town of Qualicum Beach, Town of Queen Charlotte, Village of Quesnel, City of Radium Hot Springs, Village of Revelstoke, City of Richmond, City of Rossland, City of Saanich, District of Salmo, Village of Salmon Arm, City of Sayward, Village of Sechelt, District of Sicamous, District of Sidney, Town of Silverton, Village of Slocan, Village of Smithers, Town of Sooke, District of Spallumcheen, Township of Sparwood, District of Squamish, District of Stewart, District of Summerland, District of Surrey, City of Tahsis, Village of Terrace, City of Tofino, District of Trail, City of Tumbler Ridge, District of Ucluelet, District of Valemount, Village of Vancouver, City of Vanderhoof, District of Vernon, City of Victoria, City of Wells, District of West Vancouver, District of Whistler, Resort Municipality of White Rock, City of Williams Lake, City of

QUICK FACTS

OVERVIEW

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.

EMERGENCY NUMBERS

Police, Fire, and Ambulance: 911

Alcohol and Drug Information & Referral Service: 800-663-1441

Distress Line (for people in emotional crisis): 604-872-3311

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

Suicide Line: 800-784-2433

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.

Health Services BC has a directory of hospitals in British Columbia.

Additional crisis lines are available at the municipal or regional level. Please refer to your local health authority for additional emergency services.

BRITISH COLUMBIA ALCOHOL AND DRUG INFORMATION AND REFERRAL

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 .