photo: Thomas Pool, left; Jon Kirsch, right | photo credit: David Byres

In response to the increasing rate of drug overdoses across BC, we have established a Campus Health Harm Reduction Team (HaRT) to engage our campus community in discussions about the opioid epidemic and substance use, and build on existing strategies to strengthen harm reduction services. Working in partnership with Interior Health, HaRT has launched a confidential drug checking service to students, staff and faculty to provide information about what is in their substances and support informed decision making. In addition, the team provides guidance on low-risk use and overdose prevention.

HaRT’s harm reduction services, including drug checking, are open to everyone – not just UBCO students, staff and faculty. The team can provide naloxone training and distribution, take-home fentanyl test strips, referrals to support services, sterile supplies, substance use education, and more. Anyone can text or call the HaRT phone at 250-864-1431 to arrange for a sample drop off/pick up or to obtain more information about our services.

When and Where to Find HaRT
These hours and locations are relevant as of May 19^th 2021.

Tuesdays  – Vernon

• 11:30am – 2:30pm Vernon Downtown Mental Health & Substance Use (3306A 32nd Ave). Contact Mental Health & Substance Use (250-503-3737) to drop off samples outside of HaRT hours.

Wednesdays  – Kelowna

• 10:00am – 1:00pm UBCO Campus, Room 336 UNC
• 2:00pm – 6:00pm Living Positive Resource Centre (255 Lawrence Ave.). Contact Living Positive Resource Centre (778-753-5830 or info@lprc.ca) to drop off samples outside of HaRT hours.

Fridays – Penticton

• 10:00am – 3:00pm at the South Okanagan Women’s In Need Society (SOWINS) (1027 Westminster Ave. West).  Samples can be dropped off at Burdock House (594 Winnipeg Street, tel. 236-422-1601) throughout the week.

For information about how to package samples, please review this document.

To contact Campus Health HaRT with questions or to provide feedback please email:  campushealth.ubco@ubc.ca.

Please visit the Campus Health Harm Reduction page here

Read our full report regarding the work of the Campus Health Harm Reduction Team (HaRT)
2021 February – Campus Health Harm Reduction Report

Read about the number of opioids being tested in Interior Health, including those at UBCO, and the results.
BC Centre on Substance Use: Reports on Drug Checking in Interior Health

2021 April – Drug checking in Interior Health

2021 March – Drug checking in Interior Health

2021 February – Drug checking in Interior Health

2021 January – Drug checking in Interior Health