Historical Background of BISN

In December 2017, Tina Kavanagh lost her son David to an accidental overdose. In his memory, she founded "In Good Hands" and donated an RV to serve as an information hub. The In Good Hands RV was introduced to Bell Island, NL, providing a place for clean needle exchange and peer support.

On April 8, 2019, Eastern Health launched the opioid clinic at the Dr. Walter Templeman Hospital following a request from two volunteer-driven non-profit organizations, “Heal Bell Island” (peer support) and “In Good Hands” (harm reduction). These organizations were initiated by individuals with personal experience in drug abuse and mental health challenges.

They had a dual role:

o Harm reduction: aimed at minimizing the risks of overdoses and communicable diseases. In its inaugural year, "In Good Hands" effectively decreased intravenous drug use, reducing needle distribution from 4,000 per month to 400.

o Peer support: to encourage drug users to abandon street drugs and enter into a methadone and suboxone treatment program. This work is done in conjunction with the clinic. The volunteers of “Heal Bell Island” helped clients overcome their anxieties surrounding stigma and accompany them on their healing journey.

“In Good Hands” also became a member of the advisory committee set up by the hospital to establish and maintain contact with the community.

In 2020, these two organizations invited other persons to join in order to scale up the existing operations provided until then solely by family members. Bell Island Sobriety, Housing and Employment was incorporated under the laws of Newfoundland and Labrador in June 2021 and absorbed many of the activities of “Heal Bell Island” and “In Good Hands”. It thereby became the community partner, with Eastern Health, opioid clinic.

Bell Island Support Network ltd was incorporated June 15th 2021 under the laws of Newfoundland and Labrador.