https://firstnationshealthauthority.cmail20.com/t/i-l-zwyhdl-thmkhjls-y
“Substance use is a health issue, not a criminal one. Decriminalization was meant to address the stigma and discrimination that surrounds those who use substances… using alone can be fatal.” — FNHA Statement, January 2026
Summary of FNHA Statement on Decriminalization (Jan 2026)
1. Lack of Engagement with Health Partners The FNHA expressed significant disappointment that they were not engaged or consulted by the Provincial Government before the decision to end or significantly alter the decriminalization pilot was made. As a primary health partner, they highlighted that decisions made without Indigenous leadership often overlook the specific needs of First Nations communities.
2. Disproportionate Impact on First Nations The statement emphasizes that First Nations people in BC continue to be disproportionately impacted by both the toxic drug crisis and overrepresentation in the criminal justice system. The FNHA argues that removing decriminalization measures will hit these communities the hardest, potentially reversing progress made in humanizing substance use.
3. Substance Use as a Health Issue, Not a Criminal One The FNHA remains firm in its stance that addiction is a health concern. They argue that criminalization:
- Increases Stigma: Forces people to use drugs in secret and alone, which is often fatal given the high toxicity of the current unregulated supply.
- Creates Barriers: Fear of police interaction prevents individuals from seeking life-saving medical help or accessing harm reduction resources.
4. The Roots of the Crisis The authority reminds the public that the disparity in drug-related harms for Indigenous people is rooted in:
- Colonialism & Intergenerational Trauma: Including the legacy of residential schools, the Sixties Scoop, and the ongoing removal of children from their communities.
- Systemic Racism: Anti-Indigenous racism within the healthcare and justice systems continues to limit access to culturally safe care.
5. Call for a Compassionate System The FNHA continues to support a voluntary, trauma-informed, and culturally safe system of care. They advocate for “meeting people where they are at” rather than using enforcement-led models that have historically failed to address the root causes of the public health emergency.