Campbell River will soon see a new provider for overdose prevention services.
Starting June 1st, the Vancouver Island Mental Health Society (VIMHS) will deliver overdose prevention services (OPS) at its location on 1330 Dogwood Street.
Island Health awarded the contract to VIMHS following a recent request for proposals process.
The current provider, AVI Health and Community Services Society (AVI), will continue to deliver overdose prevention services at 1371 C Cedar Street until June 15th to help connect and transition clients to the new site.
“Island Health is pleased that VIMHS, which has a long history of providing valuable services to vulnerable persons, will soon deliver life-saving overdose prevention services in Campbell River,” says Lisa Murphy, director of Mental Health and Substance Use for central and north Vancouver Island. “We are also grateful to AVI and its staff for their contributions, and we look forward to continuing to partner with them to provide other harm reduction services and education.”
Island Health says a key goal in selecting a provider was to increase access to, and use of, overdose prevention services for people in Campbell River, particularly those at highest risk of fatal overdose.
“We are pleased to have been chosen as Campbell River’s OPS provider moving forward,” says VIMHS executive director Taryn O’Flanagan. “It is an opportunity to enhance our support in the community by offering a broad range of services in a safe and welcoming environment.”
VIMHS will offer overdose prevention services as part of its Sobering and Assessment Centre, a 24/7 facility that is well-known in the community.
This service model offers an opportunity to reach those who may not currently engage with OPS services in Campbell River.
VIMHS’s overdose prevention services will be available from 1:00pm to 7:00pm, seven days a week.
