Unceded territories of the xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam), Sḵwx̱wú7mesh (Squamish) and səlilwətaɬ (Tsleil-Waututh) Nations | VANCOUVER – First Nations youth in BC now have access to the "With Open Arms" toolkit, a new resource that offers guidance on how to have courageous conversations about substance use, harm reduction and healing with friends.

“We hope that young people access this toolkit, which includes videos, language and resources so that they may feel empowered to speak openly with their friends and family about harm reduction and healing, and to be informed about their choices regarding substance use." said Dr. Nel Wieman, Chief Medical Officer of the FNHA. “The toxic drug public health emergency affects us all, and we must continue and expand our harm reduction efforts. The FNHA will continue to provide culturally safe, First Nations harm reduction supports for First Nations communities across BC." 

The toolkit was developed following the guidance and wisdom of a First Nations youth advisory committee (YAC), made up of nine committee members with lived or living experience with substance use. The content is organized into four key pillars, Wholistic Wellness & Prevention, Reducing Harm/Safer Use, Changing Relationships to Substance Use, and Creating Safer, More Supportive Communities.

FNHA follows the “All Paths Lead to Wellness" harm reduction approach to substance use and recognizes that supporting people who use substances is dependent on many factors, including the social determinants of health, individual circumstances around using and connection to culture. 

The “With Open Arms" campaign follows FNHA's announcement of the 2024 First Nations specific data for toxic drug poisoning events and deaths in BC in April 2025, which reflects in part the encouraging impact of harm reduction efforts.  

To explore more about With Open Arms or download the full toolkit resource, please visit fnha.ca/withopenarms. 

Learn More: 

Harm Reduction and the Toxic Drug Crisis 

• The FNHA's “Increase the Support. Reduce the Harm." video series features First Nations, Metis and Inuit people talking about harm reduction and the impact of toxic drugs in their lives and the lives of their loved ones. 
  

​First Nations Harm Reduction​ 

• Key aspects of harm reduction for BC First Nations include relational practice, wholistic health, drawing on the ancestral strengths of culture, community, and kinship and respecting an individual's needs, priorities, and autonomy in their healing journey. 
  

Healing Indigenous Hearts: A Facilitators Guidebook 

• The FNHA encourages First Nations people to learn more about the FNHA Healing Indigenous Hearts facilitators' guidebook, which is a resource for those wishing to establish peer groups to support Indigenous peoples and families that are navigating grief and loss related to the harms from substance use. 

A Framework for Action: Responding to the Toxic Drug Crisis for First Nations 

• A Framework for Action: Responding to the toxic drug crisis for First Nations captures a system-wide response to slow and stop toxic drug death. The Framework for Action is focused on the most urgent goal of preventing deaths while also supporting First Nations people on their healing journeys. 
  

Media Contact 

First Nations Health Authority 
Media Relations 
778-984-5962 
media@fnha.ca