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Support overdose education and prevention in your community.

Help us fight the toxic drug poisoning crisis through free public education.

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In 2025, 343 people died of drug overdose on Vancouver Island. Toxic drugs are the leading cause of unnatural death across the province.

Over a decade ago, AVI recognized that people from all walks of life were dying at increasingly alarming rates from the toxic drug supply. These, rampant, preventable deaths prompted our harm reduction teams to foreground practical education and life-saving skill sharing. Thus, we began offering (free!) Naloxone/Narcan Use and OD Response Training to the public. Since, 2016 AVI has trained more than 48,500 people in naloxone use and overdose response from Victoria to Campbell River.

Due to the efforts of people across the Island, including families and loved ones, many lives have been saved through narcan use and drug poisoining awareness. With your donation, the Community Overdose Education project can continue fighting stigma and saving lives.

What program participants have to say:

  • Your information, humanity, and respect for people you support really shows through. You demonstrated so many ways to support someone's dignity. Thank you.

    Program Participant

  • ...Through you and your training, I was able to provide the necessary naloxone and chest compressions... By the time help arrived she was beginning to breathe again and colour was beginning to come back into her face. Thank you so much for all your information and for the naloxone kit I hoped I’d never have to use. The young girl was transported to the hospital, alive.

    Program Participant

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  • 2,300

    Program Participants

  • 100+

    Programs Taught

  • 33

    Communities Served

Past Community Recipients

  • Aboriginal Coalition to End Homelessness
  • Victoria Sexual Assault Centre
  • UVIC Engineering and Computer Science Staff
  • Mount Washington Alpine Resort
  • Wachiay Friendship Centre
  • Nanaimo’s Island Crisis Care Society
  • Ligwilda’xw Healthy Society
  • The Vancouver Island University
  • Discovery College
  • Compost Education Centre Staff
  • Canadian Forces Morale and Welfare Services
  • BC Ferries

Find AVI

AVI Health and Community Services has locations in Victoria, Nanaimo, Comox Valley and Campbell River. A range of services are available at each location. 

Founded in 1985, AVI Health and Community Services increases health equity by providing highly responsive harm reduction-based HIV, hepatitis C, substance use, sexual health, mental health, and other community health services, and is informed by the voices of people with living experience.

Donate
Donate

Support overdose education and prevention in your community.

In 2025, 343 people died of drug overdose on Vancouver Island. Toxic drugs are the leading cause of unnatural death across the province.

Over a decade ago, AVI recognized that people from all walks of life were dying at increasingly alarming rates from the toxic drug supply. These, rampant, preventable deaths prompted our harm reduction teams to foreground practical education and life-saving skill sharing. Thus, we began offering (free!) Naloxone/Narcan Use and OD Response Training to the public. Since, 2016 AVI has trained more than 48,500 people in naloxone use and overdose response from Victoria to Campbell River.

Due to the efforts of people across the Island, including families and loved ones, many lives have been saved through narcan use and drug poisoining awareness. With your donation, the Community Overdose Education project can continue fighting stigma and saving lives.