The guidance reportedly appears in the “Know Before You Go” section alongside warnings about counterfeit tickets and Canadian drone laws. It says the safest choice is not to use illicit drugs, while also offering advice for visitors who decide to consume.
The report says tourists are encouraged to carry naloxone, understand how it works and avoid using drugs alone. The guide also advises starting with a small amount, proceeding slowly and avoiding combinations of substances.
Visitors can reportedly register their phone numbers in British Columbia to receive public-health alerts when an unusually potent batch reaches the unregulated market.
The Vancouver Police tourist guide takes a more explicitly legal approach, according to the report. It directs visitors to the Canadian government’s information on controlled and illegal substances rather than presenting harm reduction as a central part of the travel guidance.
That contrast matters. The guide appears to acknowledge the risks visitors may face in an unfamiliar city, while the police material focuses on legal boundaries. Both messages have a place during a major international tournament, when large crowds can magnify existing public-health pressures.
The report says British Columbia’s authorities describe the problem as an emergency driven by a toxic and unpredictable unregulated supply. That framing explains why naloxone and overdose alerts have entered the football conversation.
World Cup host cities are expected to prepare for fan behaviour as carefully as matchday logistics. Vancouver’s approach could prompt wider debate over whether visitor information should address local health risks directly, rather than relying only on policing and general safety advice.
As the tournament approaches, the next storyline will be how , Vancouver officials and local police coordinate their messaging - and whether other host cities adopt similarly specific guidance for visiting supporters.