Yúustway
Health & Wellness

Toxic Drug Crisis

Contact Details

Office hours: Monday-Friday, 8:30 am to 4:30 pm
Mackenzie Gomez, Manager, Community Health & Wellness
Phone: 604-982-7812 or 604-360-3911
Email: Mackenzie_Gomez@squamish.net

After hours support:
Danielle Hearns, Mental Health & Substance Use Clinician 
Phone: 604-351-5776
Email: Danielle_Hearns@squamish.net

Harm Reduction support:
Betty Ferguson, Harm Reduction Program Lead / Wellness Coordinator
Phone: 236-788-1977
Email: Betty_Ferguson@squamish.net

Our Approach to the Toxic Drug Crisis

The Nation views the toxic drug crisis as a complex community health issue with significant impacts on community safety. This has resulted in Nexwsxwníw̓ntm ta Úxwumixw (Council) declaring a community-wide health state of emergency, which will support immediate and long-term actions to address the crisis in a comprehensive and culturally appropriate way.

To learn about resources and next steps click on the titles below to expand:

Harm reduction and safe use supplies are available in two locations:

  • Yúustway Health & Wellness Office (Unit 9A, 380 Welch Street, West Vancouver, BC, V7P 0A7)
  • S7ilhen Food Pantry (100 B Capilano Road, West Vancouver, BC V7P 3PG)

Weekly Warriors Circle Men’s Group
Call group facilitator at 236-558-8012.

Weekly Women’s Circle Group
Call 604-982-7806 or email wellness@squamish.net

Get Your Drugs Tested
Call 778-819-0922 or visit getyourdrugstested.com

Weekly Drug Checking Services (every Friday)
Call Betty at 236-788-1977 or email Betty_Ferguson@squamish.net

Weekly AA (Alcoholics Anonymous) Meetings (every Thursday)
Call 604-982-7610 or email Nicasio_Campos@squamish.net

Monthly Naloxone training (first Wednesday every month)
Call 236-788-1977 or email wellness@squamish.net

Support with getting into treated and detox facilities

Find details about these and other harm reduction education events in community on our Workshops and Recurring Programs page.

Our plan is to increase community access (both on- and off-reserve) to:

  • Safe consumption (harm reduction) strategies, including a new harm reduction vending machine and community cupboard
  • Drug checking sites & community education
  • Distributing safe use supplies & naloxone training
  • Supervised drug consumption site(s)
  • Primary care providers (family physicians and nurse practitioners)
  • Mobile outreach & overdose prevention unit
  • Detox and addictions treatment (counselling, medication (e.g., OAT)
  • Mental health and substance use disorder supports (sobriety and relapse prevention)
  • Culturally appropriate temporary emergency housing options
  • Further training for the Community Safety Team
  • Additional social programs as required

Learn more

Nation Updates

Sḵwx̱wú7mesh Úxwumixw History Book For Sale

We are excited to announce that tiná7 cht ti temíxw (We Come From This Land) will be published in early January 2024! The book is intended to be a snapshot – a collection of some of the multi-faceted stories and histories that are held by the Sḵwx̱wú7mesh People and a starting point for future conversations.

Squamish Strong Protocol Agreements Signed

As a part of the celebrations of the 100-year anniversary of the Amalgamation of Sḵwx̱wú7mesh Úxwumixw, we are pleased to announce the Nation is signing a Wa Iyí̓m ta Sḵwx̱wú7mesh Protocol Agreement with the City of North Vancouver, District of Squamish, and the City of Vancouver respectively.

New Squamish Nation Residential Tenancy Regulations for Sen̓áḵw

Today, the Sḵwx̱wú7mesh Úxwumixw announces that the protections in the British Columbia Residential Tenancy Act (BCRTA) will be in place for the Sen̓áḵw development and for future on-reserve housing developments.
View More Updates