Troylana Manson and her family (Image Credit: Troylana Manson)

By Michael Reeve

MENTAL HEALTH AND ADDICTIONS

Safe supply needs to be focus after $1-billion investment in addiction care: advocate

Mar 3, 2023 | 4:14 PM

KAMLOOPS — On Tuesday (Feb 28), the B.C. NDP government announced more than $1-billion in funding over three years to support mental health and addictions care in the province.

“This is not an addiction crisis — this is an overdose death crisis,” said Troylana Manson of Moms Stop the Harm.

Manson lost her son Aaron to the overdose crisis in 2021. Whenever a funding announcement for mental health and addictions is released, she tries to view from the lens of, “Would this have helped save Aaron?” Her answer to $1-billion in new spending is no.

“And, yes, he had addiction issues. He was not one necessarily one that would have gone to a treatment centre. He had is own plan for treatment and he was doing very well at it,” said Manson.

Boogie The Bridge

Boogie The Bridge Event Information

Apr 19, 2024

SOUND OFF

SOUND OFF: Police confirm diversion of government-supplied drugs

7h ago

ARMCHAIR MAYOR

ROTHENBURGER: A fond farewell to the airwaves from the Armchair Mayor

11h ago

Despite that, Manson was happy to see the investment into treatment beds, but questioned how the limited number will help British Columbians.

“It was 195 beds over three years. One-hundred ninety-five people now can access some sort of treatment for their addictions. Ninety-five of them are going to be in Vancouver, specifically at St. Paul’s Hospital,” said Manson.

The other 100 beds will be spread throughout the province.

Kamloops North-Thompson MLA and B.C. Liberal Finance Critic Peter Milobar noted that, despite the investment, he believes the NDP are lacking urgency on the critical file.

“No capital dollars this year, next year or the following year. What kind of urgency is going to come with this newfound embracing of treatment and recovery for people who are struggling with addiction and mental health issues when there is not actually any dollars to build the facilities they are talking about needing?” asked Milobar.

Overall, Manson believes more of a focus needs to be placed on safe supply, noting a large majority of drug users are not addicts.

“The other 50 per cent had no issues. They aren’t looking for a treatment bed, they aren’t looking for counseling. They are not necessarily in trouble with the law. They are just recreationally using,” said Manson.