Substance Use & Addiction

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

A pair of Cowichan-based Island Health employees are cycling across Canada this summer to raise funds and awareness about mental health, homelessness, substance use and brain injuries - and how these issues are so connected. 

Residents of Vancouver Island living with moderate mental health and substance use challenges now have improved access to publicly-funded, community-based counselling.

People and organizations in communities across the Island Health region will benefit from almost $1.2 million awarded through 29 resilience and safety grants.  

Island Health is centralizing walk-in mental health and substance use (MHSU) services in Nanaimo to one location beginning March 15, 2023.

Enhanced services are available for people in Nanaimo experiencing mental health and/or substance use crises, thanks to Car 54 – a full-time mental health mobile program that launched in October 2022.

People can now be alerted via text message about drug-poisoning advisories in the Island Health region thanks to an innovative partnership. 

Substance use disorders can impact each and every one of us. Perhaps you've experienced this first-hand, or have someone in your life who is impacted by substance use.

This Movember, Island Health supports men’s mental and physical health by continuing to raise awareness around the toxic drug crisis and its impact on males – especially those who use substances alone.

Communities across Island Health continue to experience tragic deaths and injuries from the toxic drug supply. In B.C., we’ve seen a heartbreaking number of toxic drug poisoning events (overdose) and deaths since the public health emergency was declared in 2016.