No one actually used the pop-up overdose prevention site that appeared near Roxy Park, Monday afternoon in Kelowna.
While some residents issued their displeasure to other media at the sight of a small tent and community members gathered in the cold 香蕉视频直播� organizers of the pop-up site say the event went over very well.
Okanagan College Professor and former NDP candidate Norah Bowman along with former Kelowna city Councillor Michelle Rule were the two who hosted the Overdose Prevention pop-up site in Rutland.
Bowman says after astonishing numbers from Interior Health regarding overdose deaths in Kelowna she decided something had to be done, sooner rather than later.
"By the end of November, 40 overdose deaths and many more near misses had occurred in Kelowna. While we recognize that an OPS does not prevent the circulation of fentantyl, carfentanil, or potentially lethal heroin, we see setting up a Overdose Prevention Site (OPS) as one measure we can take to save lives. We anticipate other community measures in response to the overdose crisis in BC and in Kelowna,香蕉视频直播� said Bowman.
Bowman and Rule are trained in Naloxone injection and are hoping more community members will also become familiar with the administration.
香蕉视频直播淚t would be better to have something like this indoors, and right now 
for an indoor location,香蕉视频直播� said Bowman.
No active drug users attended the pop-up site; however if they did Bowman had a private tent set aside for them. She says they do not supervise but would check in on users to make sure they are OK and if necessary use a Naloxone kit in the case of an overdose.
香蕉视频直播淢any people stopped by and just asked what we were doing, where they could get Naloxone kits, and asked about fentanyl,香蕉视频直播� she explained.
The police did attend the popup site; however Bowman says there was no issue and the police seemed OK with everything that was taking place, explaining that it was not illegal.
While Bowman and Rule would like to continue this pop-up style Overdose Prevention site they are unable to carry on just the two of them. They are looking for community members to take over, become trained in using Naloxone and harm reduction.
香蕉视频直播淚 would lend them my tent to set up if they wanted it,香蕉视频直播� said Bowman. 香蕉视频直播淭he training is really easy and you can go to the Living Positive Resource Centre to find out more.香蕉视频直播�
She hopes that once IH finds an indoor location for an overdose prevention site in Rutland there will be no need for a pop-up site, which may make concerned residents more comfortable.
There is downtown overdose prevention site at the former Kelowna Health Centre (1340 Ellis St.) which is open Tuesday to Saturday noon to 7 p.m.
To find out more about harm reduction, or to train to administer Naloxone please contact on 168 Asher Road, 778-753-5830.
