On Monday, January 27, 2025 the BCSTA sent an advocacy letter to key provincial ministers, including the Honourable Ministers of Children and Family Development, Health, Social Development and Poverty Reduction, and Education and Child Care, outlining the recommendations from “One Province, One Plan: Substance and Overdose Safety in B.C. Schools,” which was prepared by the Comprehensive School Health Working Group.

This advocacy effort is crucial as we strive to create safe and supportive environments for our students. We encourage all trustees to stay engaged in this dialogue and support the collective efforts to enhance the well-being of students across British Columbia.

Read the full letter here:

Dear Ministers,

I am writing to formally introduce the report “One Province, One Plan: Substance and Overdose Safety in B.C. Schools,” developed by the BC School Trustee Association’s Comprehensive School Health Working Group (CSHWG). This report addresses the critical issues of substance use and overdose response in British Columbia’s public schools and presents an urgent call to action for our education systems.

The Comprehensive School Health Working Group, comprised of dedicated trustees from across the province, conducted an extensive survey of 45 of our 60-member school districts. The findings reveal a lack of consistency in policies related to substance use, prevention, education, and overdose response across our schools. This variance undermines the efficacy of our educational frameworks and jeopardizes our students’ safety and well-being. The BCSTA is actively supporting boards in this policy development, and we are looking to our provincial partners to help support that work.

The report puts forth several key recommendations aimed at establishing a cohesive, province-wide approach to handling substance use and overdose situations in schools. In particular, the CSHWG points to recommendations one and four, which advocate for the following:

Provincial Policy Development: We urge the provincial government to develop a cohesive set of guidelines addressing substance use in schools. This work should involve input from experts in addiction, education, health, and community partners to ensure that policies are evidence-based, effective and responsive to the local context in which boards operate.

Resource Development: We recommend the province develop an age-appropriate substance use resource toolkit for school districts. This toolkit should provide essential resources and support for educators and students, particularly in rural and remote communities where access to services can be limited. Looking at past resource development, the toolkit could be structured similarly to the successful SOGI 123 resources, allowing schools the flexibility to adapt materials to meet their specific needs.

The implementation of these recommendations is essential in safeguarding our students and equipping our educators with the necessary tools to address substance use and overdose situations effectively. As we navigate the ongoing opioid epidemic, our educational institutions must be prepared to respond uniformly and effectively.

I encourage you to review the attached report. It provides a comprehensive overview of our current landscape and the pressing need for standardized policies and resources. Together, we can foster a safer and more supportive environment for all students in British Columbia.

Thank you for your attention to this matter. I look forward to the opportunity to collaborate on advancing the health and well-being of our students.

Sincerely,

Carolyn Broady
President,
BC School Trustees Association (BCSTA)

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