Trigger warning: Sexual assault This month, shocking news about alleged sexual assault and cover-ups once again drew attention to inequalities and lack of accountability associated with addiction recovery programs in BC. Given this unfortunate string of events, we are renewing our 2018 call to the Government of BC to ensure...

The BC Humanist Association is calling for an end to moralistic approaches to drug policy in its response to the Health Committee's consultation on the overdose and drug toxicity crisis.

Vancouver Coastal Health has agreed to change its policy to permit healthcare professionals to opt for a secular addictions treatment option. The move comes as part of a settlement agreement with Byron Wood, who had filed a human rights complaint after being forced to attend religious based Alcoholics Anonymous by...

A BC Human Rights Tribunal adjudicator has rejected an attempt to dismiss a complaint against Vancouver Coastal Health Authority for forcing a nurse to attending a 12-step program. The BC Humanist Association (BCHA) has been following Byron Wood's case for several years now. This is the final step before Wood's...

An opposition MLA questioned BC's Minister of Mental Health and Addictions last week about whether the province will require some recovery centres to offer secular options. The question came from North Vancouver-Seymour BC Liberal MLA Jane Thornthwaite during debate over the estimates for the Ministry of Mental Health and Addictions on...

BC is at the forefront of addiction research and treatment provision. So when nurses develop substance use problems, why are are they not afforded the same right to quality and ethical health care as other citizens?

A labour arbitrator has ruled that Interior Health's policies around hospital workers with substance use issues are discriminatory. The policy is immediately suspended. According to the ruling, the health region's policy meant any employee who disclosed a substance use issue could be immediately suspended and required the employee to commit...

There is a risk that we are going to be forcing people, or trying to force people, to engage in a service or a support that is legitimately not right for them. Karen Urbanoski, a scientist at the Canadian Institute for Substance Use Research in Victoria, told this to journalist Bethany...

The BC Humanist Association today submitted its recommendations for a draft mental health and addictions strategy in British Columbia. The provincial government has been collecting feedback for a strategy following the creation of the Ministry of Mental Health and Addictions last year. In its response, the BCHA calls for secular...

The BC Humanist Association is encouraging people to share their stories about the importance of secular and evidence based treatments as part of a new consultation for a draft provincial mental health and addictions strategy. Last year, the Government of BC created the Ministry of Mental Health and Addiction. The...