Overdose prevention sites in British Columbia face politicization due to lack of standard guidelines from the provincial government.
British Columbia's overdose prevention site establishment faces politicization due to a lack of standard assessments and guidance from the provincial government, according to Richmond city councillor Kash Heed. The Auditor General of B.C. found the health authorities lacked minimum service standards and guidance from the Ministry of Mental Health and Addictions in operating the sites, leading to varying approaches in different communities. This has left the implementation of overdose prevention sites subject to politicization and subjective establishment, making them difficult to implement across the province. A lack of a prescribed standard has resulted in overdose prevention sites being open to politicization and subjective establishment, making them difficult to implement across the province.