VIHA

Expansion of drug kits is a smart move by VIHA

Submitted by Nicole Seguin on Mon, 01/30/2012 - 3:03pm

BY GORDON YOUNGMAN, THE DAILY NEWS

Distribution of safer crack-smoking kits reduces the risk that people will share pipes or use broken ones. It is also an opportunity to connect more drug users with harm reduction programs and other health and social services.

Sometimes, these are people who would otherwise never approach a program or agency.

Unfortunately, safer-crack kits that have the materials to make a safer-crack pipe are not available in all communities.

It is gratifying to see VIHA expanding the crack-pipe kit distribution as a part of their harm reduction program with Harris House as a model fixed site program in Nanaimo. Its purpose is not to encourage or condone the use or possession of illegal drugs. It is to help people make safer choices in their use of drugs that will reduce the spread of Hep C and HIV as well as other STIs. Read more »

Harm reduction proven helpful to communities

Submitted by Nicole Seguin on Thu, 12/02/2010 - 4:21pm
By Rachel Stern - Nanaimo News Bulletin
 
Harm reduction sites and the distribution of crack kits have been a hot topic in Nanaimo since the health authority rolled out a pilot project without consultation in 2007.
 
That project was cancelled due to public outrage and concerns that neither city council nor residents were made aware of it.
 
This fall, the Vancouver Island Health Authority planned to roll out 10 secondary harm reduction sites across the Island and met with Nanaimo city council earlier this year.
 
There are three in the mid-Island area, but VIHA isn’t revealing exactly where those sites are or when they’re open.

Nanaimo needs supervised drug site, says researcher

Submitted by Nicole Seguin on Tue, 07/27/2010 - 12:10pm
By: Dustin Walker, Nanaimo Daily News
 
Health authorities should go beyond providing clean crack pipes to addicts and establish "crack-inhalation facilities" to help tackle a growing problem with the drug, says a health sciences researcher.
 
Simon Fraser University's Benedikt Fischer and his team examined the health and social characteristics of 148 primary crack cocaine users in Nanaimo, Campbell River and Prince George. The study, which will be published in Drugs: Education, Prevention and Policy, concludes that more targeted prevention and treatment programs are needed in smaller communities.

Needle exchange and health care

Submitted by Nicole Seguin on Thu, 05/27/2010 - 7:34am
Editorial: Times Colonist
 
The need for a fixed needle exchange in Victoria is clear to everyone involved -- the Vancouver Island Health Authority, the city, social agencies. Needle exchanges aren't miracle cures. But they save lives, reduce some of the disorder on the streets and connect intravenous drug users to services.
 
Yet for the last two years, this region has been without a proper needle exchange. And the latest plan from VIHA still fails to provide this needed health service.

Needle exchange sites chosen

Submitted by Nicole Seguin on Fri, 05/21/2010 - 5:28pm
By Roszan Holmen - Oak Bay News
 
The Vancouver Island Health Authority has selected four facilities in the South Island to distribute harm reduction supplies.
 
Locations will be announced after staff have been informed, said VIHA spokesperson Shannon Marshall.
 
Drug users will be able to exchange used supplies for new ones at the sites by late summer or fall. In the meantime, a handful of mobile service are providing clean needles.
 
VIHA announced this distributed model in November 2009. The news came shortly before it confirmed it would no longer consider setting up a fixed-site needle exchange on Princess Avenue.

[Harm Reduction] kits coming to city this summer

Submitted by Nicole Seguin on Mon, 05/03/2010 - 9:37am
By Toby Gorman - Nanaimo News Bulletin
 
A controversial harm reduction strategy will go ahead in Nanaimo, this time with city council’s consultation.
 
The Vancouver Island Health Authority’s original foray into providing safer tools for drug users three years ago was met with outrage from both council and neighbourhood groups because of a lack of consultation.
 
This time, VIHA will use several fixed sites in areas known to be havens for drug users instead of a mobile van.
 
Lorna Medd, a medical health officer with VIHA, spoke to city council Monday, though neighbourhood groups continue to look in from the outside where consultation is concerned.

Residents want conversation with VIHA

Submitted by Nicole Seguin on Mon, 03/29/2010 - 9:00am

Nanaimo neighbourhood associations want in on the conversation about harm reduction strategies the Vancouver Island Health Authority expects to roll out this summer.

The health authority plans to implement an Island-wide harm reduction strategy, including 60 sites in various communities.

About 10 sites are being considered in Nanaimo and will be secondary providers of harm reduction materials that include condoms, needles, syringes, alcohol swabs, push sticks, plastic tubes and cookers.

Read more »

Harris House success due to partnerships

Submitted by Nicole Seguin on Mon, 03/29/2010 - 8:00am
By Gordon Cote, The Daily News

Re: 'Harm reduction cheaper than not acting' (Daily News, March 25)

As the agency that contracts with VIHA to deliver harm reduction services operated through Harris House, I would like to take this opportunity to thank the Daily News for its educative components on the preventative effects harm reduction supplies have on community health.

I would add only that without the support of partnerships, Harris House would not have enjoyed the success achieved to date. In particular, VIHA Public Health, the City of Nanaimo and the RCMP should be acknowledged for their leadership and ongoing involvement.

Read more »

Harm reduction cheaper than not acting

Submitted by Nicole Seguin on Wed, 03/24/2010 - 11:16am
Daily News

The Vancouver Island Health Authority has not done much to inspire confidence among Nanaimo residents over the years, yet the work of administering health programs continues.

The latest news from VIHA is the decision to provide crack pipes and other drug paraphernalia at local health centres.

Though VIHA made a blunder several years ago when they tried handing out crack pipes to Nanaimo addicts, this time it seems that the health authority may have done its homework.

There seems to be no doubt that such a program is necessary. Even when the initial effort was scuttled after an outcry from residents and assertions from the city they were not consulted, no one argued with the need for harm prevention.

Read more »

Needle exchange scare stories don't wash

Submitted by Nicole Seguin on Fri, 03/19/2010 - 1:06pm
Distributing drug paraphernalia does not increase narcotic use
 
I run the needle exchange service in the Pacific Spirit Community Health Centre in the Kerrisdale neighbourhood of Vancouver. Vancouver Coastal Health provides a variety of health services to the community at Pacific Spirit.
 
The article "VIHA ponders handing out needles, crack pipes at addiction centre" (March 17) caused me to reflect on our history, as we had all of the same concerns expressed about our centre.
Our needle-exchange service has been in place for more than six years and I can honestly say that we have never had any of our fears materialize.
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