Drugs, Alcohol & Addictions
Here To Help
Web: www.heretohelp.bc.ca
Email: bcpartners@heretohelp.bc.ca
Here to Help is a collaboration of seven mental health and addictions nonprofit organizations. It is a web site with up-to-date information, publications and stories on mental health and substance use, as well as resources like life skills and other coping-related “toolkits”, plus a discussion forum where you can connect with others.
Lower Mainland Youth Health Clinics
Youth clinics (up to age 19 or 24, depending on the clinic) are free and confidential, and offer counselling and support on all medical, health, sexual and wellness-related issues. No appointment (usually), Care Card or parental accompaniment required.
Schedules vary tremendously. It pays to call them in advance to see when their drop-in and appointment-only hours are!
Youth clinics offer services on:
- Birth control options
- Emergency contraceptive pills (ECP)
- Condoms
- Pregnancy testing
- HIV and STI (sexually transmitted infections) testing
- Pap tests
- Stress
- Drug & alcohol/Addictions counselling
Vancouver:
- English Bay Youth Health Centre (West End) – 1655 Barclay St. – 604-736-9844
- Three Bridges Youth Health Services (West End) – 1290 Hornby St. – 604-736-9844
- East Van Youth Clinic (Commercial & Broadway) – 1669 E. Broadway – 604-675-3986
- Boulevard Youth Clinic (Kerrisdale) – 2110 West 43rd Ave. – 604-261-6366
- Knight Street Youth Clinic (Knight & 49th) – 6405 Knight St. – 604-321-6151
- Pender CHC (Stadium Skytrain) – 59 West Pender St. – 604-669-9181
- Downtown CHC (DTES) – 569 Powell St. – 604-255-3151
- Pine Free Clinic (Burrard & Broadway) – 1985 West 4th Ave. – 604-736-2391
Richmond
- Richmond Youth Clinic – Moves around! Please see our listing for Richmond Youth Clinic.
North Shore:
- Parkgate CHC (Lonsdale Quay) – 132 W. Esplanade, 604-904-6450
- West Vancouver CHC (near 21st) – 2121 Marine Drive, 604-983-6700
Fraser Health has its own set:
- Burnaby Youth Clinic (Royal Oak or Metrotown Skytrain) 4734 Imperial St. – 604-293-1764
- New West Youth Clinic (New West Skytrain) 38 Begbie St. – 604-329-1875
- Vine Youth Clinic (Peace Arch Hospital) 15455 Vine Ave. – 604-542-3926 (our entry)
- Surrey Youth Clinic (Surrey Memorial Hospital) 13750 – 96th Ave. – 604-585-5999
- Iron Horse Youth Clinic (Maple Ridge) 11925 Haney Pl. – 604-463-6268
Three Bridges Community Health Centre
Phone: 604-736-9844
Address: 1292 Hornby Street, Vancouver BC
Provides free primary care health services by an interdisciplinary team to marginalized populations residing in the West End, Yaletown, Fairview Slopes, downtown Vancouver business district, and downtown South
The clinic operates by appointment Monday to Saturday, and on a drop-in basis 8:30 am to 9:30 am Monday to Friday.
- Pride Health Services offers counselling and confidential health services for lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgendered individuals, including confidential HIV/AIDS health care services.
- Infant, Child and Youth (ICY) Program provides services including newborn home visits, child health clinics, parent-infant/toddler groups, speech/language services for children up to age five, child and adult immunizations, and health programs in schools.
- The Adult and Older Adult Program provides services for seniors and people with disabilities, including home nursing, home support, occupational therapy, and physiotherapy; and referrals to meal programs, adult day centres, and assisted living and residential care facilities. Also initiates home-based palliative care and referrals to hospices. This is also a designated agency responsible for looking into reports of suspected abuse and neglect of adults who cannot seek help for themselves.
- The centre also houses the Boys R Us drop-in centre for male and transgendered sex trade workers in Vancouver, particularly the downtown south area. Open 7 pm to 9 pm Tuesday to Thursday, offers a safe and confidential place for connecting with others, including social activities such as dinner and movies. Helps individuals access resources such as health care, housing, and other community services.
Peak House
Tel: 604-253-6319
Web: peakhouse.ca
Peak House is a 10-week, co-ed residential program for youth (13-18) who are ready to challenge the effects of substance misuse in their lives.
It is a part of the Pacific Youth and Family Services Society, a non-profit society with a mandate to support and encourage programs for youth and families.
Kelty Resource Centre
Phone: 604-875-2084 Toll Free: 1-800-665-1822
Address: BC Childrens Hospital Site (Mental Health Building 2), Room P3-302 – 4500 Oak Street, Vancouver, BC
Web: keltymentalhealth.ca
Kelty Resource Centre is a provincial resource centre helping BC children, youth and their families to find the resources in dealing with mental health and substance use issues. In addition, being loosely related to the now closed Eating Disorder Resource Centre of BC, the centre also provides information and referrals to adults with eating disorders.
Directions Youth Services Centre
Phone: 604-633-1472
Address: 900 Pacific Street, Vancouver BC
Web: http://www.fsgv.ca/programpages/youthservices/directionsyouthservicescentre.html
At Directions Youth Services Centre, homeless youth and youth living in at-risk situations have access to an extensive range of services designed to assist them in taking the next steps with their life… be it to return to their home or home communities, to seek and secure affordable housing, to become employable and find employment, to work towards literacy and educational goals, or to access a doctor or a nurse, addictions services and mental health counsellors. The door is always open – 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year.
In addition to a wide range of resources and supports, Directions Youth Services Centre also helps meet many immediate daily needs, such as hot meals, showers, and laundry facilities. In order to make the services as accessible as possible, services like locker space and pet kennels are available for youth while accessing the services within the centre. Directions also serves as an urban youth centre, offering a safe place off the streets to engage homeless youth in educational, recreational, and artistic programs.
Vine Avenue Youth Wellness Drop-In
Tel: 604-542-3926
Address: 15455 Vine Avenue, White Rock BC
Web: www.vineyouthclinic.com (often down, but it exists!)
Email: info@vineyouthclinic.com
Hours of operation: Monday 3:30-6:30pm, 4th Wednesday of each month 3:30-6:30pm
Provides free and confidential health care for youths aged 12-21. Doctors and Youth Workers provide consultations to address your physical and mental health concerns, including general medical issues, sexual health (including free STI testing and free birth control), mental health assessments and referrals, as well as addictions assessments and counselling.
Watari
Phone: 604-254-6995
Web: www.watari.org Email: info@watari.org
Main office:301-877 East Hastings St, Vancouver BC, V6A 3Y1
Watari offers support and resources to youth around substance misuse, life skills training and street issues. Programs include:
- The Youth Day Treatment Program is a 7-week, voluntary substance misuse day treatment program for youth ages 13 to 24. It offers alcohol & drug counselling and education, wellness and life skills, referrals, recreation, and creative arts. Supports youth in making the transition to a more self-directed, life-affirming lifestyle.
- Through the Youth & Family Program, the Community Addictions Counselling Team is for children, youth, adults and families (primarily in the Downtown Eastside) struggling with alcohol and drug use, either their own or a close one’s. Counselling focuses primarily on alcohol and drug related issues.
- The Survival Manual (survivalmanual.org) is a compilation of services in Vancouver for high-risk adults, youth and families. Presented in a format designed by youth, it provides easily accessible health, legal, and resource information. A print version is also available from Watari.
- Various life-skills and outreach programs
Broadway Youth Resource Centre
Phone: 604-709-5720
Web: broadwayyouthresourcecentre.org
Address: 691 East Broadway, Vancouver BC V5T 1X7
Open Mon, Tues, Thurs 1pm-7pm || Wed 2:30-7pm || Fri 1pm-6pm
Offers the following services/programs for youth aged 13-24:
- Drop-in resource room
- Phone/computer use
- Youth advisory group
- Youth addictions counsellor
- Probation workers
- Adult basic education
- Counselling clinic
- Aboriginal youth program
- Health clinic (M & Th 2:30pm-5pm)
- Leave Out Violence Program
- Aboriginal youth victim support program
- Youth housing registry and housing assistance
- Vietnamese youth development program
- Youth to adult transition program
All services are FREE
Run by Pacific Community Resources Society.
Urban Native Youth Association
Phone: 604-254-7732
Address: 1618 East Hastings, Vancouver BC V5L 1S6
Web: www.unya.bc.ca Email: info@unya.bc.ca
Operates a variety of programs and services for Native youth aged 13-24. These include:
- Education & Training
- Personal Support (youth workers, counsellors, outreach, mediation and a drop-in centre)
- Residential Programs (Aboriginal Youth Safehouse and residential alcohol & drug programs)
- Sports and Recreation Program
Their web site has a listing of upcoming events and regularly schedules activities:
