"It helps me do things that are meaningful to me ... like my work": Prescribed Alternatives Workforce Program
Our February 2026 webinar turned the spotlight on the experiences of harm reduction workers in Victoria BC who participate in AVI's Prescribed Alternatives (PA) Workforce program. The Workforce Program provides access to PA (e.g., various formulations of prescribed fentanyl, opioid agonist treatment) to individuals employed in harm reduction roles. An interdisciplinary healthcare team provides wrap-around psychosocial support to participants. AVI’s PA service model is guided by principles of health equity and builds on flexible clinical protocols developed to maximize safety, privacy and dignity for participants. In March-April 2025, surveys and interviews were conducted with participants and staff to valuate early outcomes of the new Workforce cohort and learn more about what HRWs experience as participants of the PA program. This webinar will share evaluation findings of the Workforce Program, including participant outcomes and experiences, as well as recommendations.
Speakers: Laura Cartwright and Emily Clayton, AVI KTE Team
Additional resources
- Read the “Practice Brief: Expanding prescribed alternatives on Vancouver Island.” (2025)
- An article published about the PA Workforce Program in CATIE's Programming Connects
- Find more AVI SAFER publications here.
