Adult Substance Use Services & Resources
If you or someone you know is struggling with substance use and addiction – you’re not alone. Support is available.

Accessing substance use support
- Call 310-MHSU (6478) to reach your local Mental Health & Substance Use (MHSU) Centre
- Connect with Access MHSU Services for more information and links to services to best meet your needs
- Call a crisis line for immediate assistance (24 hours, 7 days per week):
- Click on the Substance Use Services Wheel (circular diagram) or Substance Use Services Snap Shot (linear diagram) for links to our substance use services and MHSU Centres
- To learn more about planning to enhance substance use services at Interior Health see the Substance Use Strategic Framework (2020–2025).
- Learn about harm reduction
- View these suicide phone line resources
Substance use services
If you or someone you know is at risk of or showing signs of problematic substance use or mild substance use, these resources may help.
- Help Lines fact sheet - links to trustworthy help lines.
- Mobile Apps/Virtual Treatment fact sheet - provides a list of virtual/online supports
Easy to access services to meet people where they are at, as they are ready.
If you or someone you know is experiencing an acute mental health or substance use crisis, these services may be available in your community.
- Crisis Response
- Substance Use Connections
- Addiction Medicine Consultation Services
- Integrated Crisis Response Teams respond to mental health or substance use (MHSU) emergencies in Kamloops, Vernon, Kelowna and Penticton. Our MHSU clinicians are partnered with a specially trained RCMP officer to help connect you to the services you need to keep you safe.
Provide individual and group counselling, case management or day treatment programs in the community.
If you are experiencing moderate to severe substance use issues and require a more intensive treatment setting than Community Based Substance Use Services, you may be able to attend Bed-Based Services:
- Bed-Based Withdrawal Management Services: Provide you with medically supported services through acute stages of withdrawal from alcohol or other drugs in an inpatient setting
- Transition & Stabilization Services: Provides a safe transition space if you do not have a stable place and need vital support following withdrawal management
- Bed-Based Treatment Services: Provide you with a structured, live-in program where your treatment goals are supported through assessment, evidence-based treatment and skill building.
- Support Recovery Services: Provide you with a time-limited substance-free live-in setting. These safe, supportive environments are available when you are experiencing low to moderate substance use.
For a complete list of beds available to Interior Health adults see our list of Bed-Based Services.
The Interior region is home to the traditional, ancestral and unceded territories of the Tŝilhqot’in, Secwépemc, Dãkelh Dené, St’át’imc, syilx, Nlaka’pamux, and Ktunaxa Nations, comprised of 54 First Nations Communities. View our map of Bed-Based Services locations within the interior region.
Substance use resources
As of Jan. 31, 2023 adults in B.C. are no longer charged for the personal possession of small amounts of certain illegal drugs (opioids, cocaine, methamphetamine, and MDMA).
- Overdose & Drug Checking News & Alerts: News & updates on the ongoing opioid overdose public health emergency.
- Help Lines: This Fact Sheet is a compilation of trustworthy Help Lines to support you and guide you to other resources.
- Mobile Apps/Virtual Treatment: This fact sheet provides a list of virtual supports that can be accessed through an internet connected device so information and wellness ideas can be accessed whenever and wherever they are needed.
- Overdose Prevention/Harm Reduction: Involves a range of support services and strategies to prevent fatal and non-fatal overdoses and empower and support people to be safer and healthier.
- Opioid Agonist Treatment: Opioid Agonist Treatment (OAT) is the recommended treatment of Opioid Use Disorder (OUD). OAT involves an opioid agonist medication prescribed and monitored by a health care provider. The primary medications used are Suboxone and Methadone.
- Resources for Families and Loved Ones Affected by Substance Use: If your loved one is struggling with substance use, these resources (information, tools and support groups) may help.
- Peer Education and Training: If you are someone with lived or living experience with substance use who is seeking to further your skills and knowledge and strengthen your role in offering supports to others, these Peer training options may support you in your work.
- Addressing Stigma: Stigma is negative attitudes and beliefs about group of people due to their circumstances in life. This fact sheet is a compilation of trustworthy resources to support your learning about the impact of stigma
- Substance Use Language: Learn how language about substance use affects stigma.
- Information on Substances
- Substance Information - Alcohol
- Substance Information - Cannabis
- Tobacco & Vaping
Facility-based withdrawal management
Facility-based treatment
Supportive recovery
Support for caregivers supporting loved ones affected by substance use
Support for people losing a loved one to substance use-related harms
In my experience was a five-part series where people shared first-hand experiences and information about accessing a variety of substance use services at Interior Health.
In my experience: Integrated Treatment Teams
Read about Jessica and Patrick's experience
In my experience: Substance use day treatment programs
In my experience: Supervised Consumption/Overdose Prevention Sites
In my experience: Alcohol Use Disorder treatment
Read about Matthew's experience
In my experience: Opioid Agonist Treatment (OAT)
- First Nations Health Authority MHSU culturally safe and trauma informed resources including crisis lines, suicide prevention and residential school survivor supports.
- Mental Wellness supports during an extraordinary event


Interior Health’s Advance Care Planning: Your Voice, Your Choice video series teaches about the purpose and importance of advance care planning (ACP).
/stories/lets-talk-about-advance-care-planning-your-voice-your-choice


Derrick has lost more than 80 family members & friends to the toxic drug and opioid crisis. He reflects on grief & loss, and issues a plea for compassion.
/stories/peer-reflects-ninth-anniversary-toxic-drug-emergency


Devon has been working in various positions at Interior Health since 2017, and as an administrative assistant to the director of Health System Planning(HSP).
/stories/we-are-ih-admin-assistant-aims-create-positive-impact


All 29 of IH's emergency depts. offer Sexual Assault Forensic Examination services. Confidential and compassionate, SAFE starts with We believe you.
/stories/safe-provides-compassionate-care-sexual-assault-patients


Lenora Starr is an Indigenous cultural safety practice lead of St’át’imc Nation advocating for the health and well-being of Indigenous Peoples of the Interior.
/stories/we-are-ih-indigenous-lead-forges-path-health-and-wellness


Trauma is a powerful force that can shape a person’s life. Learn what trauma is, and why those who use substances need compassion and understanding.
/stories/how-trauma-can-lead-drug-and-alcohol-use
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