Vancouver's official FIFA guide for the 2026 World Cup includes unprecedented tips on how to use illicit drugs safely, a measure not seen in any other host city. The guide advises visitors to "start low, go slow," use only one substance at a time, and always carry naloxone, an opioid overdose reversal medication.
Drug advice on official FIFA website
The guidance is part of a section called "Know Before You Go" on the official FIFA Vancouver website. It warns that the unregulated drug supply in Vancouver is unpredictable and may be more dangerous than what visitors are used to elsewhere. The section begins by noting that British Columbia is in the midst of a "toxic drug public health emergency," a term preferred by B.C. public health authorities to emphasize that contaminants, not drug use itself, are the problem.
According to the guide, "The unregulated drug supply in Vancouver is unpredictable and may be more dangerous than what visitors are used to in other countries or regions." It recommends that tourists carry naloxone and know how to use it, and encourages them to submit their cell phone numbers to the Province of B.C. to receive public health alerts if a batch of drugs is particularly potent.
Recent overdose cluster in East Vancouver
Just this week, Vancouver Police reported a cluster of seven overdoses in the same region of East Vancouver, highlighting the ongoing crisis. The guide also advises fans to only use drugs with a friend and to avoid mixing substances.
While the guide states that the safest choice is not to use illicit drugs in an unfamiliar city, the tips are provided "in case you do use." This approach reflects B.C.'s harm-reduction strategy, which focuses on minimizing risks rather than solely advocating abstinence.
Contrast with other host cities
No other World Cup host city with comparable drug problems has included similar tips. For example, San Francisco, which has a higher fatal overdose rate than Vancouver, only offers transportation and parking information in its official FIFA guide. Vancouver's inclusion of drug safety tips is unique and likely stems from the province's ongoing public health emergency, which has seen thousands of overdose deaths linked to toxic street drugs.
Provincial health officer Bonnie Henry said in a recent statement that B.C.'s drug problem is a "highly toxic and unpredictable, unregulated drug supply." The guide echoes this language, framing the crisis as a result of contaminants rather than drug use itself.
Vancouver Police offer separate guidance
Vancouver Police issued their own drug guide for FIFA tourists, but it encourages visitors to keep drug use within the law. It directs fans to a Government of Canada database of controlled and illegal substances, asking, "For questions about what drugs are allowed in Canada, see this list of controlled and illegal drugs."
The FIFA guide also includes standard tips about avoiding fraudulent tickets and complying with Canadian drone laws, but the drug advice has drawn attention for its unusual approach. As one of the few cities with a sanctioned drug supply, Vancouver's guide reflects local realities, though it remains to be seen how international visitors will respond.
