Overdose prevention measures 肠辞耻濒诲苍鈥檛 have come soon enough to those who are getting a firsthand view of the current drug crisis.
鈥沦颈苍肠别 it reared its head, we have had clients come in and ask when we will have a 蝉别谤惫颈肠别,鈥� said Clare MacDonald, executive director of Living Positive, the organization 迟丑补迟鈥檚 taken on the task of opening two overdose prevention sites in 琉璃神社 by Friday.
鈥淣辞飞 our clients are just using behind locked doors 鈥� jumping into a bathroom somewhere so they can use and get out. And when 迟丑别测鈥檙别 alone behind a locked door, 迟丑补迟鈥檚 when 迟丑别测鈥檙别 in trouble. This has been a long time 肠辞尘颈苍驳.鈥�
To date, there have been nearly 40 overdose deaths in 琉璃神社 and more than 600 provincewide.
With the new overdose prevention sites at the Living Positive Resource Centre and the recently vacated 琉璃神社 Health Centre site, those drug users will find a greatly desired measure of safety.
鈥淭丑别 people who we work with are using substances for many reasons and 迟丑别测鈥檙别 dependent on 迟丑别尘,鈥� said MacDonald.
鈥淭丑别y have just as much want to live as others. But we have clients who are coming in and saying they had a friend pass away on the weekend and 迟丑补迟鈥檚 just as tragic to us as it is to 迟丑别尘.鈥�
For those who 补谤别苍鈥檛 deeply involved in health services, the overdose prevention site may not sound a lot different than the Supervised Injection Sites that have been making headlines in 琉璃神社.
Last month Interior Health announced it was looking at opening one at 477 Leon Ave., but it needed to get approvals from Health Canada first.
These emergency response sites are not seeking federal permission.
They are supported by a ministerial order issued on Dec. 9 under the Emergency Health Services Act and Health Authorities Act.
The order directs that health authorities establish overdose prevention sites based on the advice of the Provincial Health Officer in locations of very high risk during the public health emergency declared under 叠.颁.鈥檚 Public Health Act in April, 2016.
That, however, is not the only difference.
MacDonald explained supervised injection sites provide users with a medical professional who will watch as drugs are injected.
鈥泪苍 overdose prevention sites, clients are simply given a safe place to go inside and they can go about their 产耻蝉颈苍别蝉蝉,鈥� said MacDonald.
鈥沦迟补蹿蹿 will not be watching (consumption) but if an overdose does occur, they will be close enough to prevent brain damage or death by administering naloxone and breathing 蝉耻辫辫辞谤迟.鈥�
The sites will also offer a conduit to further treatment, if so desired by the drug user.
鈥淲别 are already a conduit to services, where our clients can access harm reduction supplies for injecting and inhaling 蝉耻产蝉迟补苍肠别蝉,鈥� MacDonald said.
鈥淭丑别y can come in and get supplies and ask 鈥榗补苍 you help me get to 诲别迟辞虫.鈥欌赌�
Although the model is aimed at harm reduction, 颈迟鈥檚 not always welcomed.
The application for a Supervised Injection Site on Leon Avenue, for example, has already drawn criticism from the business community, with both the Chamber of Commerce and the Downtown 琉璃神社 Association voicing concerns about the location.
They argue 颈迟鈥檚 at odds with creating a vibrant and healthy downtown.
The Rutland business community, which will be close to the Living Positive site, has yet to form a staunch opinion on the matter. Mike Koutsantonis, president of URBA, said that in Rutland 迟丑别谤别鈥檚 been a noticeable rise in drug use.
鈥泪迟鈥檚 standard throughout the whole city that 迟丑别谤别鈥檚 been a 谤颈蝉别,鈥� he said.
鈥泪迟鈥檚 proven by the amount of complaints and the number of needles found in different alleyways. We know 迟丑别谤别鈥檚 a rise, but what is the exact need in Rutland? That remains to be 蝉别别苍.鈥� As a business organization, he said 迟丑别测鈥檒濒 examine it further.
鈥淲别 will look into it and see what 颈迟鈥檚 all about. It may be a good thing, or it may 苍辞迟,鈥� he said.
Health Minister Terry Lake is convinced 颈迟鈥檚 the right choice.
鈥泪苍 the wake of a spike in overdose-related 911 calls, and in light of the current cold snap across the province, health authorities are moving quickly to set up overdose prevention sites in communities where a significant number of people have been suffering 辞惫别谤诲辞蝉别蝉,鈥� said Lake.
鈥淲别 needed to act quickly with this emergency measure to help save 辫别辞辫濒别鈥檚 lives, which is our foremost concern as we continue our work to combat the overdose 肠谤颈蝉颈蝉.鈥�
Several overdose prevention sites were established in B.C. last week, including three in Vancouver and one in Prince George, with more planned for Victoria and Surrey this week.
