Substance Use Connections a ‘warm handover’ to community services

When the Substance Use Connections team receives a referral for someone who has arrived at a hospital, a team member visits the patient as soon as possible, whether in the emergency room or at their bedside.

If the patient has been discharged, or has left the hospital, the team contacts them within 72 hours and provides consistent support until they are connected to care. Care and supports can include shelters, counselling, mental health (including seniors mental health), opioid agonist therapy (OAT), Virtual Addiction Medicine (VAM), withdrawal (detox) management and bed-based treatment.

Even if someone initially declines help, the team can offer kind, compassionate support during their hospital stay.

“Sometimes there’s so much shame associated with being at the hospital, they don’t want help at first,” says Deb. “When we connect with the patient in a non-judgmental way, they realize someone does care. We offer people what we call a ‘warm handover’ and a consistent connection along their journey.”

At Penticton Regional Hospital, the Substance Use Connections team is helping people navigate their substance use journey with kindness, compassion and respect.

The three-person team—Nathan, a registered nurse, and Lana and Joycelyn, clinicians and accredited social workers—provide a comfortable and reliable presence for individuals in the hospital. The skilled team supports people at any stage in their substance use journey, whether they just started using substances to those who near end of life.

They act as a patient’s advocate with health-care professionals when the patient may not be able to advocate for themselves. The team also provides information about medication, harm reduction and therapies.

One of the most powerful aspects of their job is holding space for people, developing rapport and building trust.

“We want people to feel heard, understood and accepted,” shares Nathan. “We honour the stage of change a person is in and what their goals are by meeting them where they’re at.”

 Adds Joycelyn, “When people thank us for holding space, and listening ‘to someone like me,’ these are our wins.”

Substance Use Connections works alongside a team of Peers.

“We have wonderful nurses and doctors in the hospital, but it’s still a clinical setting,” explains Lana. “Our Peers help humanize their experience in the hospital. It’s amazing to see a Peer connect with a patient.”

Dion is a Peer Support Worker with the Penticton team. As a person with lived experiences, Dion knows firsthand what it feels like to not feel heard, supported and understood.

Four years ago, he courageously sought recovery, a process that opened his eyes to the transformative power of Peer support. “Knowing how powerful connecting with a Peer was for me, I thought, ‘I want to be able to do that for someone else,’” he explains.

After volunteering as a Peer, Dion joined IH full time as a Peer Support Worker when IH started bringing Peers into hospital settings.

Dion emphasizes his role isn’t about pushing recovery. “I’m not here with a checklist or desired outcomes. I’m here to connect,” he emphasizes. “Sometimes I don’t say anything—I just hold space with people and allow them to feel acknowledged,” he says.

Patients will sometimes disclose information to a Peer they won’t share with a doctor. “I understand how scary and daunting it is for someone to seek services,” shares Dion.

He recalls sharing his experiences with one patient in the hospital. As he left the room, they broke down in tears. “They said, ‘You don’t know how much hope you’ve given me today.’”

While the focus on the Substance Use Connections team is meeting people in the hospital, the team also does community outreach. They visit shelters, supportive housing and organizations like Foundry regularly.

“A very small percentage of people living with addiction are living in shelters or on the streets,” reminds Lana. “But that’s the public perception because that’s what you see in your community.”

The team also partners with other teams like the Integrated Community Outreach and Crisis Response and the RCMP. The team works closely with Indigenous Patient Navigators and First Nations teams to ensure culturally safe care.

People 12 years and up can access Substance Use Connections. While referrals come from hospitals, community agencies and schools, people can also self-refer. Families and friends can refer their loved one with consent. A doctor’s referral is not needed.

The program is primarily designed for those with moderate to severe substance use concerns. More than half of all referrals are for those who use alcohol.

Teams can be found in Williams Lake, Kamloops, Vernon, Kelowna, Penticton, Grand Forks, Trail, Cranbrook, Castlegar and Nelson.

Substance Use Connections can be reached by calling 310-MHSU (6478) or by contacting your local Mental Health and Substance Use centre.

Call 310-MHSU (6478) to reach your local Mental Health and Substance Use Centre for support in your community. You can also explore these provincial resources:

• Help Starts Here
• Toward the Heart (BCCDC)

If you’re experiencing feelings of hopelessness or thoughts of self-harm, you can call one of these numbers. These services are available 24 hours a day, seven days a week, including holidays:

• Interior Crisis Line Network - 1-888-353-2273
• Suicide Crisis Helpline - 988
• KUU-US (Indigenous) Crisis Line - 1-800-588-8717
• Métis Crisis Line - 1-833-638-4722

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