Street Outreach Services (SOS)

• AIDS Vancouver Island’s Street Outreach Services (SOS) provide services for people who use drugs by injection. The program is a core component of AVI’s responsibility to contain HIV/AIDS, hepatitis C and other communicable diseases. SOS services are provided in Victoria, Courtenay, Campbell River, and in Port Hardy.
• SOS offers needle exchange and health promotion/harm reduction information in addition to relevant programming and a drop-in.
• Anonymous HIV, Hep C, Pregnancy and STD testing is provided on-site by the Vancouver Island Health Authority (VIHA) Street Nurse Program.  Vaccinations, referrals and other services are also available.
• AVI’s Health Promotion team has developed HIV and hep C prevention programs targeted to this population, and provides regular workshops and peer education sessions.
• SOS ensures accessible needle disposal for users by providing syringe drop boxes and teams of volunteer “rig diggers” who patrol the area surrounding the exchange and collecting abandoned syringes and related paraphernalia.

For a list of links and resources please visit our harm reduction resource page.

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VICTORIA NEEDLE EXCHANGE UPDATE

As of June 1, 2008, Street Outreach Services in Victoria is operating this service as mobile. This is an interim solution until AVI can find a new location out of which to offer this service.

The AVI Mobile Nx Code of conduct is available in pdf here.

For more information please read: Needle Exchange Programs Q&A and Mobile Needle Exchange Q&A.

For information 9am-5pm Mon-Thurs or Fridays 9am-1pm, call (250) 384-2366

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_________________________________Service Hours_________________________________________

AVI-X Harm Reduction Services

Mobile Outreach downtown:

Monday to Friday * 3pm to 5:15pm & 7 to 10pm

Saturday * 8:30am to 12:45pm

Sunday & Sunday * 8:30pm-9pm

Mobile Van will be parked on Princess between Government and Douglas:

Monday to Friday * 7pm to 10pm

Saturday & Sundays * 5:30pm to 8:30pm



SOS teams work from 3pm until 10pm Monday through Saturday and from 5pm to 9pm on Sunday.

For information on how to access services, please call 250-896-AVIX (2849) during these hours.

OTHER AGENCIES WHO OFFER NEEDLE EXCHANGE

VARCS Mobile X

P: 250-888-4487

Mon – Fri * 9am - 2:45pm

SOLID

Mon - Sun * 7am -9am

Tues-Thurs 6pm to 8pm

*Peer-driven needle exchange on foot.

Phone: 250-298-9497

Y-Van Youth Outreach

P: 857-1173 & 857-1179

Mon – Thurs * 1pm-10pm

Sun * 5pm-10pm

PEERS RV Outreach

On the stroll.

Mon – Sun * 5:30pm to 9pm

VIHA Street Nurses

P: 361-7056 / 818-3373

Monday—Friday

* On the street and at different agencies.

Cool Aid Health Clinic

713 Johnson Street

Mon. - Tues * 9am-6pm

Wed. - Thurs * 9am – 8pm

Friday * 9am-3pm

Saturday - 10am-2pm