Open drug use, weapons and violence are ubiquitous in B.C. hospitals, jeopardizing the safety of both patients and front-line health workers, nurses say. But the provincial government is playing down the problem, if not outright denying its existence, despite the disturbing stories that have been shared over the past few days.

The scandal erupted last week when a leaked internal memo from B.C.’s Northern Health Authority, which covers the northern half of the province, revealed that staff at hospitals within the region had been instructed to tolerate drugs and weapons at their workplaces.