The province is bringing in a new scientific advisor to look into mental health and addiction treatment in B.C. and offer recommendations for government to improve care.
On Wednesday, Premier David Eby announced that Dr. Daniel Vigo, a psychiatrist and assistant professor at the University of British Columbia (UBC) will be taking on the role of chief scientific advisor for psychiatry, toxic drugs and concurrent disorders.
In his new position, Vigo will look at what kind of treatment is available for people with complex mental health and addiction care requirements and offer advice on how to make that treatment better. He’ll work closely with Provincial Health Officer Dr. Bonnie Henry, the province said, as well as health authorities, Indigenous groups and people with lived experience.
“We’ll continue to be guided by evidence, not ideology, because we won’t play politics with people’s lives,” Eby said.
More than 14,400 people — including at least 126 children and youth — have died in B.C. as a result of toxic drugs since a provincial public health emergency was declared in April 2016. Indigenous people continue to be disproportionately affected by toxic drugs.
“That is, unfortunately, the tip of the iceberg,” Eby said.
The province said there are an increasing number of people who are dealing with brain injuries after surviving a toxic drug overdose. While half of survivors die shortly after, the care for those who do survive, as well as next steps, can be complicated, Vigo said.
Province under scrutiny
This news comes as the B.C. NDP government and its mental health and addictions programs have been under fire from people on all sides of the political spectrum in recent months.
In particular, the province’s approach to the toxic drug crisis and people living with addiction has been criticized.
In March, B.C.’s auditor general determined that two government programs aimed at curbing the death toll from the crisis were not “effectively implemented” by the ministries of health and mental health and addictions.
In April, the province rolled back the drug decriminalization program it announced in January 2023, once more giving police the ability to seize drugs and arrest people using them in spaces like parks, bus stops and hospitals.
While some believed this was the right move, others felt it would put lives at risk.
Meanwhile, the safer supply program in B.C., designed to offer drug users non-toxic, prescription alternatives to potentially poisoned illicit drugs, has also drawn mixed reaction.