Skip to main content

Harm Reduction Client Survey

BCCDC reports regularly on harm reduction and substance use topics.

Since 2012 the BCCDC Harm Reduction Services program has surveyed clients of harm reduction supply distribution sites across BC. BC has an established network of more than 350 harm reduction distribution sites. 

Prior to 2012, knowledge about high-risk drug use was based primarily on data from two major cities, Vancouver and Victoria. The Harm Reduction Client Survey was introduced to obtain more comprehensive and province-wide information about drug use, related harms, stigma, and access to harm reduction services.

Data from the survey is used to inform harm reduction planning, confirm emerging issues, and to evaluate and improve quality of harm reduction services. The background and significant findings of the survey are summarised in the reports below. The 2023 survey was administered at sites across the province and data analyses are in progress. People with lived and living experience of substance use are engaged during survey development and interpreting findings. Infographic

The UBC Office of Research Ethics has reviewed and approved this study in accordance with the requirements of the Tri-Council Policy Statement: Ethical Conduct for Research Involving Humans (TCPS2, 2018). Regional Health Authority Research Offices have also approved the study for each region.BC Harm Reduction Client Survey: Background & Significant Findings throughout the Years 

Annual Reports & Findings

A BCCDC Rounds presentation Sep 2021 highlights how survey findings have informed policy and programs, and how people with lived/living experience of substance use are engaged in all steps of survey development, administration and interpretation of the findings.

The harm reduction client survey: From small beginnings to influencing harm reduction policy and programs. 

Findings and knowledge summaries for each year the survey was administered are described below.   

 

 

Summary infographics 

Reports & Publications

Decriminalization

Awareness and Knowledge of Decriminalization

Interactions with Law Enforcement

Changes in Usage, Possession, and the Supply of Substances
Hesitance in Accessing Services
Overdose Prevention and Supervised Consumption Sites and Public Substance Use
Decriminalization related policy timeline

Survey

2023 Harm Reduction Client Survey‎ 


Maps

2023 Map of Participating Harm Reduction Distribution Sites


 

Summary infographics

Reports & Publications

Prescribed Alternatives to the Toxic Drug Supply

Prescribed Alternative Preferences

Access and Barriers to Prescribed Alternatives

Decriminalization

Awareness and knowledge of drug decriminalization among people who use drugs in British Columbia: a multi-method pre-implementation study (Feb 2024) Publication


Report: Findings from the 2022 Harm Reduction Client Survey related to BC’s Decriminalization Policy


Patterns of Purchasing and Possession of Drugs

Awareness of Decriminalization

Interactions with Law Enforcement

Hesitance to Seek Services

Survey

2022 Harm Reduction Client Survey


Maps

2022 Map of Participating Harm Reduction Distribution Sites

 

Summary infographics

Reports & Publications

Drug Checking in British Columbia: Findings from the 2021 Harm Reduction Client Survey (May 2024) Knowledge Update

Factors associated with obtaining prescribed safer supply among people accessing harm reduction services: findings from a cross-sectional survey (Jan 2024) Publication 

Motivators of and barriers to drug checking engagement in British Columbia, Canada: Findings from a cross-sectional survey (Jan 2024) Publication 


Associations with experience of non-fatal opioid overdose in British Columbia, Canada: a repeated cross-sectional survey (Dec 2023) Publication


Preferred stimulant safer supply and associations with methamphetamine preference among people who use stimulants in British Columbia: Findings from a 2021 cross-sectional survey (Oct 2023) Publication


Identifying demographic, substance use, and health services characteristics associated with obtaining Prescribed Safer Supply: analysis from the Harm Reduction Client Survey (Jan 2023) Knowledge Update


Reported Substance Use, Overdose and Naloxone Kit Ownership 2012-2021


Changes to the Drug Supply and Public Drug Use during the COVID-19 Public Health Emergency (Sep 2023) Infographic


Findings from the 2021 Harm Reduction Client Survey on Witnessed Drug Consumption Services: Overdose Prevention Sites, Supervised Consumption Sites, and Cellphone Applications (Sep 2023) Knowledge Update


Smoking identified as preferred mode of opioid safe supply use: investigating correlates of smoking preference through a 2021 cross-sectional study in British Columbia (2023) Publication


Awareness, predictors and outcomes of drug alerts among people who access harm reduction services in British Columbia, Canada: findings from a 2021 cross-sectional survey (2023) Publication


Survey

2021 Harm Reduction Client Survey


Maps

2021 Map of Participating Harm Reduction Distribution Sites



2019

 
Summary Infographics

Reports & Publications

Opioid agonist therapy discontinuation in British Columbia: a cross-sectional study of people who access harm reduction services (2025) Publication 


Exploring motivations for concurrent use of uppers and downers among people who access harm reduction services in British Columbia: a thematic analysis  (2022) Publication


Correlates of concurrent use of stimulants and opioids among people who access harm reduction services in British Columbia, Canada: Findings from the 2019 Harm Reduction Client Survey.  (Apr 2022) Publication


Investigating Opioid Preference to Inform Safe Supply Services: A Cross Sectional Study (Jan 2022) Publication


Urine toxicology screening among 2018 and 2019 harm reduction client survey participants (Dec 2021) Report


Examining prevalence and correlates of smoking opioids in BC: Opioids are more often smoked than injected (Oct 2021) Publication 


Good Samaritan Drug Overdose Act awareness among people who use drugs in British Columbia (Sep 2021) Publication


Crystal Methamphetamine Use in BC: A Cross-sectional Study of People Who Access Harm Reduction Services (May 2021)  Publication


 
Summary Infographics

Reports & Publications

Convenience & Comfort: Reasons Reported for Using Drugs Alone Among Clients of Harm Reduction Sites in B.C. (Dec 2020) Infographic  Publication


Known & Unknown Fentanyl Use (Jan 2020)

Infographic  Publication


Acceptability of Technological Solutions for Overdose Monitoring: Perspectives of People Who Use Drugs (Oct 2019)  Publication


Correlates of Naloxone Kit Possession Research Summary (Oct 2019)  Infographic


Findings from the 2018 B.C. Harm Reduction Client Survey (Dec 2018)  Knowledge Update


Urinalysis Toxicology Screening Results (Oct 2018)  Infographic

Survey

2018 Harm Reduction Client Survey


Maps

Geographic distribution of psychoactive substance use among clients of harm reduction sites across BC. 

Download All Maps 


Alcohol                               Benzodiazepine                Cannabis
BCHRCS2018_Alcohol.jpgBCHRCS2018_Benzodiazepine.jpg BCHRCS2018_Cannabis.jpg

Cocaine                                 Crack                                    Crystal Meth

BCHRCS2018_Cocaine.jpgBCHRCS2018_Crack.jpg BCHRCS2018_CrystalMeth.jpg 


Dilaudid                                      Fentanyl                         Heroin

BCHRCS2018_Dilaudid.jpg BCHRCS2018_Fentanyl.jpg BCHRCS2018_Heroin.jpg


Methadone                           Morphine

BCHRCS2018_Methadone.jpg BCHRCS2018_Morphine.jpg



 
Publications

Why the FUSS (Fentanyl Urine Screen Study)? A Cross-sectional Survey to Characterize an Emerging Threat to People Who Use Drugs in B.C. (Nov 2015)

Publication

 
Reports 

Patient Perspectives of Methadone Formulation Change in British Columbia, Canada: Outcomes of a Provincial Survey (Jan 2016)

Publication


Maps

Geographic distribution of psychoactive substance use among clients of harm reduction sites across BC. 

Download all maps


 Alcohol                               Benzodiazepine        Cocaine



Crack                                Crystal Meth                   Dilaudid



Heroin                                 Marijuana                     Methadone




 
Reports 

Substance Use Trends in BC: A Survey of Harm Reduction Clients - Overall Results for BC 2013 (Feb 2014)

Report


Maps

Geographic distribution of psychoactive substance use among clients of harm reduction sites across BC. 


Alcohol                      Benzodiazepine            Cocaine



 Crack                                Crystal Meth                         Dilaudid   



                                           Marijuana                           Methadone



Morphine  


 

 
Publications

Survey on Drug Use Among Harm Reduction Clients (Apr 2014)  Publication

 
SOURCE: Harm Reduction Client Survey ( )
Page printed: . Unofficial document if printed. Please refer to SOURCE for latest information.

Copyright © BC Centre for Disease Control. All Rights Reserved.

    Copyright © 2025 Provincial Health Services Authority.