Downtown Eastside Connections

Downtown Eastside (DTES) Connections is a low-barrier addictions clinic serving DTES community members with opioid use disorder who may find challenges using other addictions services. The clinic provides opioid agonist therapy (OAT) starts and dose adjustments, urgent primary care, outreach, referrals, kits with tools to prevent overdose, and care that takes psychological and social factors into account.

DTES Connections offers rapid access to OAT to people in the DTES with a history of opioid use disorder, and without a care provider. The clinic accepts drop-in clients or direct referrals from VCH and non-VCH partners. These may include: DTES Primary Care sites, non-VCH community partners, hospitals, Access Central – Detox Referral phone line, Overdose Outreach Team (OOT), Lighthouse Virtual Substance Use Care Clinic, Providence Health Care virtual Rapid Access Addiction Clinic (RAAC), Home Health, the Evelyne Saller Centre, and WISH Drop-in Centre Society.

The goal for DTES Connections is to provide low-barrier, same day access to OAT and then to connect clients to appropriate community-based health services. These services may include primary care clinics, or bed-based recovery services.

DTES Connections is open seven days per week and is currently accepting new clients.