New Contract for Overdose Prevention Services in the Alberni Valley

Port Alberni – People living with addiction in the Alberni Valley will be able to continue accessing life-saving services at the existing Overdose Prevention Site. Following a Request for Proposals (RFP) process for Overdose Prevention Services providers in Port Alberni, Island Health has signed a contract with the Port Alberni Shelter Society.

Island Health received one proposal from the existing service provider. The application was fully assessed against criteria included in the RFP to ensure it met requirements related to stakeholder and community engagement, client care and safety, connection to other community supports and treatment providers, to name a few.

The Port Alberni Shelter Society is committed to a respectful, safe and secure operation of the OPS and is responsive to those who live and work near this service. This includes:

  • Discouraging congregation in and around the site
  • Ongoing partnerships with RCMP and BC Emergency Health Services
  • A telephone number for neighbours to call if they have questions, concerns or would like to visit the site: 778-419-0016 (answered daily 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.)

The contract ends December 31, 2019.

Overdose Prevention Service Facts:

  • Since December 2016 Island Health has funded nine Overdose Prevention and Supervised Consumption sites, which are operated by community partners. At those sites there have been more than 220,000 visits, more than 1,000 overdoses were reversed and there were zero deaths.
  • Since opening the Port Alberni Overdose Prevention Site in May 2017, there have been more than 21,000 client visits and zero deaths.

Media inquiries:

Cheryl Bloxham
Phone: 1-250-370-8878
Email:  cheryl.bloxham@islandhealth.ca