Youth Harm Reduction Award

Information and Guidelines

Youth Harm Reduction Award Application - Fillable

Youth Harm Reduction Award Application - Downloadable

Island Health’s Youth Harm Reduction Award, to be given annually, was inspired by three high school students in the Greater Victoria region whose commitment and passion allowed them to attain their goal of providing harm reduction training in their school. Their motivation to make a difference came following the fatal illicit drug poisoning of a friend. This award honours their dedication to advancing knowledge and creating awareness to help reduce the risk of harm for themselves and for other young people.

Winners receive $1,000 (total) and a framed certificate for each recipient. Applicants must be under 19 and live in any community in the Island Health region, including the southern Gulf Islands. Applications will be reviewed beginning in April, with the winning submission announced in June. 

Learn more about the award, the application process and past winners.

We look forward to hearing from other young people about innovative and impactful harm reduction projects they are leading in their communities.

News & Events

New Care and Connection Kiosk

New Care and Connection Kiosks provide discreet life-saving harm reduction supplies 24/7

Island Health is introducing three Care and Connection Kiosks at hospitals in Campbell River, Nanaimo and Victoria offering community members an innovative way to access free, life-saving, harm reduction supplies and information about mental health and substance use services, supports and treatment.

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Expressions of Interest call for Island Health  Resilience and Safety Grants

Expressions of Interest call for Island Health Resilience and Safety Grants

For the second year, Island Health is allocating up to $1 million for resilience and safety grants aimed at helping improve mental health, mitigate the harms associated with illicit substance use and build youth resilience. 

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image of cell phone

Drug and health alert text system expands

Anyone in the Island Health region can now contribute data to help inform potential drug poisoning overdose advisories. 

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