Image: Image of upset young woman on stairs. / Tero Vesalainen, Dreamstime

By Janet Routledge, MLA for Burnaby North

OPINION

YOUR PERSPECTIVE: Navigating the road to recovery

Jan 21, 2026 | 9:23 AM

The toxic drug crisis is taking lives, and harming families and individuals in communities across the province.

Confronting the stigma of mental health and substance use is essential to get more people the help they need. In 2023, our government tested a decriminalization pilot with broad support from advocates, service providers, and police to help people seek care without fear of criminalization or discrimination. While it hasn’t delivered what we hoped, it has offered important lessons that are helping us continue to strengthen care and recovery supports that meet people where they are at.

We are continuing to focus on things we know that do provide help for people, and just last week we announced that Access Central, a clinical phone line service, is now available in Fraser Health, Interior Health, and Island Health. This service is making it easier for adults to be met with support for substance use– the service has been operating in Vancouver since 2023 and has been quickly connecting people to the care they need ever since.

We’re also going to continue expanding treatment and recovery capacity across the province, making it easier to get connected to care, and preventing toxic-drug deaths through life-saving services such as Take-Home Naloxone kits, drug checking and observed consumption services.

For youth, we will continue to fund programs and facilities to support with mental health and substance use challenges. Youth in the Fraser Valley can find supports through Foundry centres in both Abbotsford and Langley, which offer young people ages 12-24 and their families integrated mental health, substance use health, primary and sexual health care, youth and family peer support, and work, education and community services all in one location. Young people who do not have a Foundry centre in their community can also access services through Foundry Virtual, available province wide. Youth in Chilliwack will have their own local Foundry centre to visit if they need support, as well, as plans are underway.

Transportation improvements

Province to expand Abbotsford interchange to 5 lanes

9h ago

Homicide investigation

Second-degree murder charge laid in homicide of 43-year-old Maple Ridge woman: IHIT

11h ago

Public works project

Highway 1 project in the Fraser Canyon expected to last 6 months, include detours: District of Hope

11h ago

In addition to government supports, we are lucky to have local organizations across B.C. who step up for their communities every day, whether it’s in my own community of Burnaby, or in Abbotsford, Chilliwack, Langley, and beyond. I am so grateful for all the staff and volunteers that dedicate their time to helping our neighbours who might be struggling.

We still know that substance use is a health issue, not a criminal one, and we will continue to work to expand treatment access and strengthen the continuum of care for people suffering. Our priority is, and always has been, to make sure people can get help when and where they need it. Every person deserves the chance to heal.

If you need help on the road to recovery, you can call Access Central in Fraser Health at 1-833-866-6478 from 8:30 am to 8:30 pm.

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Editor’s Note: This opinion piece reflects the views of its author, and does not necessarily represent the views of Fraser Valley Today or Pattison Media.