Island Health has issued drug poisoning advisories for Victoria, Nanaimo and Campbell River after an increase in overdoses in those communities.
The health authority issued the drug poisoning advisories saying people in Victoria, Nanaimo and Campbell River face an increased risk of overdose when using opioids and stimulants.
If a member of the community comes across someone experiencing an overdose, they are asked to call 911 and stay with them, give Naloxone and give one breath every five seconds.
When using drugs, people are advised to visit an overdose prevention service, get your drugs checked, carry naloxone, use one substance at a time, know your tolerance, start low and go slow, and stagger use with a friend.
If you’re using alone, Island Health advises you let someone know and ask them to check on you, download Connect by Lifeguard, or call the National OD Response Service at 1 (888) 688-NORS(6677).
Overdose prevention services and drug checking services can be found at the following locations:
Victoria
Overdose prevention services
The Harbour is open daily from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. People using the service for inhalation should go to 926 Pandora Ave., and those injecting should go to 941 Pandora Ave..
Rock Bay Landing at 535 Ellice St. is open daily from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m.
AVI at 713 Johnson St. is open daily from 2 p.m. to 9 p.m.
Drug checking
Substance can be found at 1802 Cook St. and is open Monday to Saturday from 12 p.m. to 7 p.m.
Information on mail-in testing can be found at Substance’s website.
Nanaimo
The overdose prevention site in Nanaimo can be found at 250 Albert St. and is open from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m.
Drugs can be checked at the same location, or mail-in testing information can be found on Substance’s website.
Campbell River
The overdose prevention site and drug checking can both be found at 1330 Dogwood St., unit #5 open daily from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m.
Information on mail-in testing can be found at Substance’s website.
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PLEASE SHARE: #DrugPoisoning Advisories have been issued for #CampbellRiver #Victoria and #Nanaimo
Visit our #OverdosePrevention Services page at https://t.co/wPegIrkj6t to find information on supervised consumption sites, drug-checking services & more.#MyIslandHealth pic.twitter.com/94R12VIHIN
— Island Health (@VanIslandHealth) November 9, 2023
Unregulated drug deaths
In September, 34 people died in Island Health due to the unregulated drug supply, according to the BC Coroner Service.
Greater Victoria had the second highest number of deaths in the province, with 15 deaths occurring in the region, behind Vancouver, where 42 people died.
Between January and September of this year, 118 people have died due to unregulated drugs in Greater Victoria. Nanaimo has the fourth highest number of deaths, one spot behind Victoria, with 89 deaths.
READ PREVIOUS: Expert panel lays out framework to roll out safer supply to prevent deaths in B.C.
Laura Brougham
