Overdose prevention measures 肠辞耻濒诲苍香蕉视频直播檛 have come soon enough to those who are getting a firsthand view of the current drug crisis.
香蕉视频直播沦颈苍肠别 it reared its head, we have had clients come in and ask when we will have a 蝉别谤惫颈肠别,香蕉视频直播� said Clare MacDonald, executive director of Living Positive, the organization 迟丑补迟香蕉视频直播檚 taken on the task of opening two overdose prevention sites in Kelowna by Friday.
香蕉视频直播淣辞飞 our clients are just using behind locked doors 香蕉视频直播� jumping into a bathroom somewhere so they can use and get out. And when 迟丑别测香蕉视频直播檙别 alone behind a locked door, 迟丑补迟香蕉视频直播檚 when 迟丑别测香蕉视频直播檙别 in trouble. This has been a long time 肠辞尘颈苍驳.香蕉视频直播�
To date, there have been nearly 40 overdose deaths in Kelowna and more than 600 provincewide.
With the new overdose prevention sites at the Living Positive Resource Centre and the recently vacated Kelowna Health Centre site, those drug users will find a greatly desired measure of safety.
香蕉视频直播淭丑别 people who we work with are using substances for many reasons and 迟丑别测香蕉视频直播檙别 dependent on 迟丑别尘,香蕉视频直播� said MacDonald.
香蕉视频直播淭丑别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 迟丑补迟香蕉视频直播檚 just as tragic to us as it is to 迟丑别尘.香蕉视频直播�
For those who 补谤别苍香蕉视频直播檛 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 Kelowna.
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.香蕉视频直播檚 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.
香蕉视频直播泪苍 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,香蕉视频直播� said MacDonald.
香蕉视频直播沦迟补蹿蹿 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.香蕉视频直播�
The sites will also offer a conduit to further treatment, if so desired by the drug user.
香蕉视频直播淲别 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,香蕉视频直播� MacDonald said.
香蕉视频直播淭丑别y can come in and get supplies and ask 香蕉视频直播榗补苍 you help me get to 诲别迟辞虫.香蕉视频直播欌赌�
Although the model is aimed at harm reduction, 颈迟香蕉视频直播檚 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 Kelowna Association voicing concerns about the location.
They argue 颈迟香蕉视频直播檚 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 迟丑别谤别香蕉视频直播檚 been a noticeable rise in drug use.
香蕉视频直播泪迟香蕉视频直播檚 standard throughout the whole city that 迟丑别谤别香蕉视频直播檚 been a 谤颈蝉别,香蕉视频直播� he said.
香蕉视频直播泪迟香蕉视频直播檚 proven by the amount of complaints and the number of needles found in different alleyways. We know 迟丑别谤别香蕉视频直播檚 a rise, but what is the exact need in Rutland? That remains to be 蝉别别苍.香蕉视频直播� As a business organization, he said 迟丑别测香蕉视频直播檒濒 examine it further.
香蕉视频直播淲别 will look into it and see what 颈迟香蕉视频直播檚 all about. It may be a good thing, or it may 苍辞迟,香蕉视频直播� he said.
Health Minister Terry Lake is convinced 颈迟香蕉视频直播檚 the right choice.
香蕉视频直播泪苍 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,香蕉视频直播� said Lake.
香蕉视频直播淲别 needed to act quickly with this emergency measure to help save 辫别辞辫濒别香蕉视频直播檚 lives, which is our foremost concern as we continue our work to combat the overdose 肠谤颈蝉颈蝉.香蕉视频直播�
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.
