In-person addictions specialists at large hospitals and virtual clinical consultation at regional and rural hospitals are just some of the several steps the Health Ministry plans to take amid B.C.sa国际传媒檚 move to ban public drug use.

The Health Ministry is planning to take several actions to combat drug use in hospitals as the premier says the government sa国际传媒渓eaned too heavily on the idea that public intoxication could have been used as a toolsa国际传媒� in decriminalization.

On Friday (April 26), Premier David Eby announced his governmentsa国际传媒檚 plan to ban drug use in public places sa国际传媒� with use in hospitals being specifically highlighted after months of pushback, most notably from B.C. United.

Part of this move, he said, was sa国际传媒渢he quickly escalating situation on the ground, particularly in relation to hospitals, and use in restaurants, where it became clear that even the authorities that wesa国际传媒檇 attempted to impose at the provincial provincial level would have to be expanded further.sa国际传媒�

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Health Minister Adrian Dix said these changes are critical.

sa国际传媒淲esa国际传媒檙e going to change whatsa国际传媒檚 clear in the hospital, that everyone who comes to the hospital needs to know that there is a prohibition on the on the use of illicit substances,sa国际传媒� he said.

sa国际传媒淲e know that many people will come to the hospital dealing with serious addictions, and they need to deal with addictions under the direction of medical supervision of health professionals, doctors and others.sa国际传媒�

The government has listed seven actions the Health Ministry plans to take sa国际传媒渢o make hospitals safer and better manage addictions for patients,sa国际传媒� but staff will not be searching people for drugs. That includes:

sa国际传媒� Take consistent action across B.C. to prohibit drug possession, use and purchasing of illicit drugs in hospitals or hospital sites

sa国际传媒� Improve how patients with substance- or opioid-use illnesses are supported toward treatment and recovery services

sa国际传媒� Add in-person addiction specialists to large hospitals and virtual clinical consultation in smaller regional and rural hospitals

sa国际传媒� Remain focused on a culturally safe approach to implementing change

sa国际传媒� Actively address unacceptable behavious such as aggression, non-compliance with policy and drug dealing in hospitals through additional security

sa国际传媒� Introduce improved education and awareness efforts to better equip and support staff facing unsafe situations

sa国际传媒� Ensure existing overdose prevention sites are working for people

But the Hospital Employeessa国际传媒� Union is calling for the government to scale up the seven actions as quickly as possible.

sa国际传媒淭hrough the Ministersa国际传媒檚 task force on drug use in health care, we will continue working with health employers and the government to implement the necessary solutions that best respond to the ever-evolving challenges of the toxic-drug crisis,sa国际传媒� spokesperson Lynn Bueckert said.