Nanaimo Public Health

02/06/2026

PLEASE SHARE: A Drug Poisoning/Overdose Advisory has been issued for Nanaimo.
- Check out Island Health’s Harm Reduction Services page at https://ow.ly/FgyS50PLkLF to find information on overdose prevention and supervised consumption sites, drug-checking services and more.
- For harm reduction services and information, including naloxone programs, visit Toward the Heart at https://ow.ly/Nlzv50PLkLO
- If you’re using alone, try the Lifeguard App at https://ow.ly/183a50PLkLN or the Brave App at https://ow.ly/rbxN50PLkLG, or call the National Overdose Response Service at 1-888-688-6677
- For Indigenous-specific information, visit the First Nations Health Authority’s Overdose Prevention and Harm Reduction pages at https://ow.ly/ktA450PLkNW

02/03/2026

02/02/2026

01/26/2026

01/23/2026

Do you know a young person making a difference in harm reduction?

Applications for the 2026 Youth Harm Reduction Award are open March 1 to April 15, 2026.

Parents, caregivers, teachers, mentors, and loved ones are encouraged to support youth 19 and under who have led projects in the past year focused on reducing harms related to unregulated substances.

This award recognizes youth leadership and action in harm reduction.

Recipients will get $1,000 (total) and a framed certificate.

Learn more: islandhealth.ca/yhra

01/22/2026

01/22/2026

01/19/2026

Are you concerned about your alcohol or drug use? You don’t need to have the answers before you call.
A care team member will listen, learn what you need, and help connect you to services.
Call Access Central at 1-888-885-8824, 9 a.m. to 7:45 p.m. daily, or visit islandhealth.ca/addiction-care to learn more.

Soon, more people in BC will be able to access addictions care faster and with fewer barriers.

Access Central is expanding from Vancouver Coastal Health into Fraser Health, Interior Health and Island Health. With one phone call, adults can connect to a nurse or trained clinician for assessment within 24 hours and a personalized substance-use care plan. Supports may include medication, outpatient services, detox or counselling, based on individual needs.

Later this year, the service will expand to Northern Health, making it available province-wide.

Access Central services are available 7 days a week at:
• Fraser Health: 1-833-866-6478 from 8:30 AM to 8:30 PM
• Interior Health 1-866-777-1103 from 9 AM to 4:30 PM
• Island Health: 1-888-885-8824 from 9 AM to 7:45 PM
• Vancouver Coastal Health: 1-866-658-1221 from 9 AM to 7:45 PM

01/13/2026

Each year in Canada, hundreds of children face serious harm from swallowing button batteries. Toddlers are most at risk.

If you suspect your child has swallowed a button battery, take your child to the nearest emergency department immediately. Giving honey to a child on the way to the hospital can reduce the risk of serious injury.

A swallowed button battery can cause severe internal chemical burns in as little as 2 hours. This can lead to serious injuries or even death. Even used batteries are dangerous.
Read more here:

Watch out for these hidden dangers in your home

01/06/2026

Any of this sound like you?

Every now and then, I have a drag of a friend's cigarette, or I share a v**e with a friend. But that's it.

The only time I smoke ci******es is when I'm with friends who smoke.

The only time I v**e is when I'm with friends who v**e.

I smoke ci******es every day or almost every day.

I v**e every day or almost every day.

I just quit using ci******es or v**es. Now, I need to stay off them completely.

If so, check out this guide on va**ng to learn about the science around it.

The I Quit for Me Youth Guide has facts about va**ng and can support young people who want to quit and stay quit.

Help the teens in your life take the first step toward quitting va**ng or smoking: https://ow.ly/brZ750XtzYu

01/06/2026

For many people, “Dry January” is a time to take a break or cut back on alcohol. But what are the benefits of drinking less alcohol?

Last year, UVic’s Canadian Institute for Substance Use Research launched https://ow.ly/Sb1o50XS54M, an online tool that calculates the impacts of drinking on our health based on age, s*x, and consumption habits. This tool garnered a lot of use last year, landing it a spot in UVic's top stories of 2025.

🍷 More about Know Alcohol: https://ow.ly/n1GT50XS54K
🔗 Read more top stories from 2025: https://ow.ly/XKlV50XS54L