With the approval of Health Canada and Dr. Richard Stanwick, Chief Medical Health Officer for Island Health, effective immediately, The Harbour supervised consumption service will transition its operations
Island Health has issued a Request for Proposals (RFP) for a new location for the Overdose Prevention Services site in the Cowichan Valley.
Read Lisa's story about her time attending the Mental Wellness Day program at Royal Jubilee Hospital.
Island Health and the City of Campbell River have partnered to make it easier to dispose of needles safely, thanks to the installation of five sharps disposal boxes in the community.
Island Health’s Mental Health and Substance Use (MHSU) South Island Advisory Committee presented two prestigious awards to valued members of our community who have made kindness and compassion an extension of their work life.
For the fourth year, Island Health’s Mental Health and Substance Use (MHSU) South Island Advisory Committee has presented two prestigious awards to valued members of our community who have made kindness and compassion an extension of their work life by supporting people with mental health and substance use challenges.
Victoria – People living with addiction and people who are ready to begin a pathway to recovery will now have greater access to the services they need. The Rapid Access Addiction Clinic (RAAC) in Victoria is expanding service hours and inpatient Addictions Medicine Consult Service, originally offered only at the Royal Jubilee Hospital, will now be available at the Victoria General Hospital too.
Victoria – Exactly one month after it opened, the Pandora Avenue Supervised Consumption site has officially been named “The Harbour” – reflecting the service’s purpose to provide a safe place – or harbour – where people can use illegal drugs under supervision by trained health professionals and peer support workers.
Comox Valley - Clients needing longer term, residentially-based addictions treatment services can now access 11 intensive residential treatment beds at the Comox Valley Recovery Centre.
The repurposed beds – which provide longer stays and more intensive treatment – serve men living with opioid use disorder and other addictions. Clients will receive a higher level of care to support significant addiction challenges than was previously available on Vancouver Island.
Vancouver Island - Island Health is urging everyone to be vigilant if they choose to consume substances at festivals this summer. Many substances (i.e. cocaine, heroin, ecstasy, Xanax and meth, etc.) have been contaminated by fentanyl or other toxic additives, increasing the possibility of a serious overdose. The safest way to prevent an overdose is to avoid substances completely.