Community Substance Use Strategy

For immediate assistance with substance abuse issues, emotional crisis or you simply need support, please contact the Vancouver Island Crisis Line at 1-888-494-3888 or visit www.vicrisis.ca 

In 2002, the Community Drug Strategy Committee was founded with the support of Courtenay City Council. The mandate of the Community Drug Strategy Committee included working towards educating the community and creating awareness about the dangers of substance use, encouraging partnerships in creating solutions and the importance of making safe and healthy choices.  Since then, annual funding has been allocated to support the work of this committee.

In the fall of 2019, the City recognized the need for a regional substance use strategy with a broader scope given the current state of both the provincial and local opioid crisis affecting the entire community.   This lead to discussions with the Comox Valley Community Health Network (CVCHN) in recognizing the overlap in CVCHN’s existing regional substance use strategy mandate with the Drug Strategy Committee’s work.   The City requested CVCHN to build upon the work carried out by the City’s Community Drug Strategy Committee, assemble a committee of community stakeholders and take a regional approach to the development of a community substance use strategy that would reduce substance related harms in the Comox Valley.

Further steps included:

1)      CVCHN assembled the Comox Valley Community Substance Use Strategy Committee (CVCSUSC) comprised of a multi-sectoral group of people and community organization stakeholders.

2)      Annual funding previously assigned to the Drug Strategy Committee was redirected to the CVCHN to hire a consultant to develop a Comox Valley Community Substance Use Strategy.

3)      Consultants were engaged by the CVCSUSC to develop the strategy framework, coordinate community stakeholder sessions and summarize the findings and actions in the Phase 1 report.

PHASE ONE

Community Substance Use Strategy Phase 1 Report.pdf [PDF - 7 MB]

City of Courtenay Staff have reported on Phase One of the Community Substance Use Strategy and have requested continued support from the Comox Valley Community Health Network. 

City of Courtenay Staff Report & Phase One Report.pdf [PDF - 8 MB]

Phase One focused on learning and documenting the current state of substance use in the Comox Valley as well as listening to community members and stakeholders. The Phase One report provides the foundation and strategic next steps necessary to move forward with Phase Two of the Community Substance Use Strategy which will focus on mapping the substance use system and responses in the Comox Valley, engaging with decision makers and government, and convening community engaged research dialogues to inform findings and clear next steps.  Phase Three will focus on collective action for implementing the strategy based on the findings of Phase One and Two to round out a comprehensive Community Substance Use Strategy.  

PHASE TWO

The Comox Valley Community Health Network has completed phase two of the Community Substance Use Strategy and has begun phase three of the strategy. This includes the implementation of the 21 recommendations and ongoing recommendations identified in the report. After phase three is completed, staff and CVCHN will return to provide a final report on this phase to Council and discuss next steps to ensure the strategy will continue to  support a fair and equitable plan to reduce substance-related harms in the Comox Valley.

CVCSUSC submitted the Community Substance Use Strategy: Phase Two Report to Courtenay Council on September 27, 2023 with the following staff report: CV Community Substance Use Strategy - Phase Two Staff Report.pdf [PDF - 471 KB]

For updates on the status of the CVCSUS please contact Comox Valley Community Health Network https://www.cvchn.ca/

PRIOR ACTIVITIES OF THE COMMUNITY SUBSTANCE USE STRATEGY

Comox Valley Drug and Alcohol Services Directory

In May 2012 the Community Drug Strategy Committee released an updated Comox Valley Drug and Alcohol Services Directory. This manual is

intended to provide easy access to information, matching members of the community to resources and supports to move towards healthier, happier lives.

Comox Valley Drug and Alcohol Services Directory [PDF - 756 KB

Committee Activities and Programs

The Committee hosts annual presentations for Comox Valley students and the public during National Addictions Awareness Week. Recent guest speakers have included:

  • Katy Hutchison, whose husband was murdered on New Years Eve 1997 while trying to stop a party (2007)
  • Odd Squad, Vancouver police officers who made the film "Through the Blue Lens" (2008)
  • Dr. Gabor Maté,  author of In the Realm of Hungry Ghost: Close Encounters with Addiction (2009)
  • Clara Locey, who used her own experiences to discuss the dangers of drug use (2010)
  • Matt Bellace, motivational speaker who discussed staying drug and alcohol free and learning about natural highs (2011)
  • Keith Pattinson, who spoke about the 40 Development Assets to help our youth succeed (2012)

Since 2008, the Committee has offered funding to local schools and community organizations to create prevention activities. As of 2013/2014, 44 schools and organizations have received a total of $24 725 from the Committee.  In 2012, the Committee began offering two Smart Choice Awards of $500 each to graduating students in the Comox Valley to go towards post-secondary education.  The purpose of the Awards is to support and celebrate students who have remained drug and alcohol free throughout their high school years. 

For immediate assistance with substance abuse issues, emotional crisis or you simply need support, please contact the Vancouver Island Crisis Line at 1-888-494-3888 or visit www.vicrisis.ca 

Questions?

Contact the Recreation, Culture and Community Services Department at 250-334-4441 or email rcs@courtenay.ca