Harm Reduction and Safe Consumption

 

In April 2016, the Provincial Health Officer declared the toxic drug crisis to be a public emergency.

Since then, over 11,000 British Columbians have lost their lives to illicit toxic drugs.

This resource list helps British Columbians affected by the toxic drug crisis find local harm reduction services. To speak with a 211 Resource Navigator, dial or text 2-1-1.

 

  • Alcohol and Drug Information and Referral Service (ADIRS)

    Provides free, confidential, multilingual, information and referral regarding community resources for people in BC dealing with substance use and addiction issues. Also covers education and prevention resources, and other concerns such as harm reduction. Telephone assistance is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

    Harm Reduction Strategies and Services (HRSS)

    This service of the BC Centre for Disease Control (BCCDC) hosts Toward the Heart, a website with information about sites across BC that distribute safer sex supplies, drug use supplies, and naloxone. The website also lists overdose prevention sites and supervised consumption sites. HRSS also runs the free Take Home Naloxone program (Narcan), which supplies opioid users with injectable naloxone kits that can be used to reverse the effects of overdoses from opioids.

     

  • Community based drug checking services are facilities that have supplies and equipment on site to test drugs from the unregulated market. Individuals can bring their drugs in for analysis as a means of preventing potential harm to themselves or fellow users from an overdose or other risks. Also included are programs that distribute test strips, which individuals can take and use to detect the presence of fentanyl in a drug sample.

    Drug Checking Sites by Health Authority
     

    Fraser Health Drug Checking sites

    Interior Health Drug Checking sites

    Island Health Drug Checking sites

    Northern Health Drug Checking sites

    Vancouver Coastal Health Drug Checking sites

    For additional help finding drug checking resources, call the Alcohol and Drug Information and Referral Service (ADIRS). Lower Mainland: 604-660-9382. Elsewhere in BC: 1-800-663-1441

     

  • Please note that many safer supply programs are at capacity. Contact them first to check on availability of space and service.

    Interactive map: Canada's response to the opioid overdose crisis

    This interactive map lists locations of opioid-related activities taking place in communities across Canada, including non-supervised consumption sites offering drug checking, Substance Use and Addictions Program (SUAP) - safer supply projects, and supervised consumption sites currently offering services.

    The Hep C Care Registry

    The online All Safe Supply page features a Google Map that links to drug user groups across BC with peers who can help with safe supply access and clinics that help support people accessing safe supply.

    Substance Use and Addictions Program (SUAP)

    Health Canada's Substance Use and Addictions Program (SUAP) provides grants and contributions funding to respond to drug and substance use issues. The Program has active projects that assist with obtaining safer supplies including:

    • AVI Health and Community Services Society - Safer Alternatives For Emergency Response (SAFER) is a low-barrier, flexible safe supply program that provides several medication options, including hydromorphone and fentanyl, and is integrated with other health care and social services. Serves Victoria and surrounding area.
    • Dr Peter AIDS Foundation Overcoming Barriers to iOAT program - provides medically supervised pharmaceutical grade opioids for injection. The program allows individuals to receive prescribed hydromorphone as an injectable opioid treatment twice daily.
    • Kilala Lelum Health Centre (Urban Indigenous Health and Healing Cooperative) - Overdose Response Expansion Project provides safer supply options in conjunction with Indigenous Elder-led cultural programming in Vancouver’s Downtown Eastside.
    • My Safe Society - The MySafe machine resembles an ATM, and after verifying the patient's identity with a palm scan, provides patients with access to their existing prescriptions for hydromorphone pills. Walk-in program at participating locations: Overdose Prevention Society: 141 East Hastings Street, Vancouver | Carl Rooms: 375 Princess Avenue, Vancouver | Luugat Hotel: 1176 Granville Street, Vancouver | Victoria CoolAid Society: 3020 Douglas Street, Victoria
    • Providence Health Care’s The Hope to Health Innovation and Research Centre - Offers personalized, low-barrier access to a variety of opioid medications. Offered in partnership with BC Centre for Excellence in HIV/AIDS.
    • Safer Alternatives For Emergency Response (SAFER)- A low-barrier, flexible safe supply program that provides several medication options, including hydromorphone and fentanyl, and is integrated with other health care and social services. Operated by PHS Community Services Society in partnership with the British Columbia Centre on Substance Use (BCCSU).
    • Under Island Health, Injectable Opioid Agonist Therapy (IOAT)  is provided to residents of Johnson Street Community in Victoria, operated by PHS Community Services Society.

     

  • Toward the Heart | Harm Reduction Strategies and Services (HRSS)

    This service of the BC Centre for Disease Control (BCCDC) hosts a website that lists health authority-issued drug alerts throughout the province. In the Interior Health and Fraser Health regions, individuals can receive toxic drug and health alerts by text; to sign up, text the word JOIN to 253787 (ALERTS).

     

Resource List Updated: Sep. 26, 2023