Whereas the Province of BC, through their 2023 Pathway to Hope progress report committed to eliminating gaps in the mental health care and substance use treatment system, and to building an integrated system of care that includes access to a full spectrum of treatment and recovery options so that no one falls through the cracks; And whereas wait times for detox beds are a known barrier for those seeking the option of treatment for addiction when they are ready: Therefore be it resolved that UBCM lobby the provincial government in order to provide more funding to open detox centres where they are needed and where accessing existing ones would be difficult for individuals needing the service.
Ministry of Health As of March 2025, there are 3,778 publicly funded substance use beds in BC; with 758 having been opened since 2017. Within the overall continuum of publicly funded substance use beds, 270 are detox beds. Detox support is also available through outpatient substance use services including home-based, mobile and virtual treatment options, and medication-based treatments that can be accessed through Rapid Access Addiction Clinics. The Province is increasing access to detox services across BC with new detox beds, outpatient options for people looking for support at home or in community, and through expanded access to Opioid Agonist Therapy through new services like the Opioid Treatment Access Line. In addition, improving access to detox is a key part of Road to Recovery R2R, a new model of care for addictions being implemented in each health region in BC. R2R is a made-in-BC model of addictions care that establishes a seamless continuum of care from detox to treatment and aftercare services for clients with moderate to severe substance use disorders. The R2R model was initially piloted in the Vancouver region in fall 2023, and in July 2024, the Province announced that the R2R model would be expanded to every health region. The R2R expansion will include the implementation of same- day clinical assessment and service matching in each health region through a new service called Access Central; this will be available across the province in the coming months. The expansion will also include up to 100 new substance-use treatment beds, including new detox beds over three years, and new or expanded outpatient services. In Vancouver, where R2R has been operating since 2023, R2R has been quickly connecting people with the treatment they need. From October 2023 until December 2024, more than 2,500 people were supported to access detox services across three sites in Greater Vancouver through R2R, with a median wait time of one day for those prioritized as urgent. The Province recognizes the importance of offering a full range of substance use services and will continue to work to build a seamless system of substance use care in BC, through these and other initiatives.