The Harbour Community Health and Wellness Centre

BC Emergency Health Services, Island Health, SOLID Outreach and Lookout Housing and Health Society

The opioid overdose epidemic has created a major strain on both public health and emergency response resources, and is beyond the capacity or scope for one agency or organization to eff ectively respond on its own. In response, BC Emergency Health Services (BCEHS), Island Health, SOLID Outreach, and Lookout Housing and Health Society joined forces to develop an innovative model for a safe consumption site for the Greater Victoria area that integrates primary care, mental health substance use services, and supervised injection services all under one roof.

The Harbour Community Health and Wellness Centre is the fi rst supervised consumption service within Island Health, and the fi rst in Canada to fully integrate paramedics as part of a cohesive care team that includes harm reduction workers, nurses, persons with lived experience, and social program offi cers. Bringing together Island Health’s experience with harm reduction and the social complexities of successful public health strategies with BCEHS’s clinical expertise in the area of overdose response has resulted in improved treatment and prevention interventions for opioid users, and saved lives.

For working together to eliminate obstacles to accessing live-saving supports and services, we award the Gold Apple in Collaborative Solutions to The Harbour Community Health and Wellness Centre.

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