By Spencer Sterritt

Public feedback needed for Nanaimo’s first safe consumption service

Apr 25, 2017 | 8:12 AM

NANAIMO — A long-in-the-works proposal by Island Health now needs public opinion. 

An info session is tonight for Nanaimo’s first safe consumption site, to be run by the health authority. People can meet the key players in the planning process and learn about the ongoing opioid crisis by visiting the board room of the Service and Resource Centre between 6:30 and 8:30 p.m. 

Dr. Paul Hasselback, medical health officer with Island Health, said the site is a “natural evolution from what we currently have in place.” He said they’ll be able to extend the help currently offered at the overdose prevention site, such as providing long term support and assisting with addiction treatment. 

The proposed safe consumption site will be at the same location as the current overdose prevention site at 437 Wesley St. Hasselback said it’s located right in the middle of the ongoing crisis and has functioned “extremely well” since it opened at the beginning of March. 

Technically, a safe space to do drugs is illegal, but Island Health is applying for an exemption from Health Canada to allow such a site. They are one of roughly a dozen applications submitted to allow the site. Currently exceptions have been granted in Vancouver and Montreal. 

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Hasselback said opening a site where it’s safe and legal to inject illicit drugs is counter to the traditional thinking behind a health authority, but it’s a change they need to face.

“(The opioid crisis) is challenging our philosophy, it’s challenging our services, it’s challenging our ability to respond on many different levels and challenging it very rapidly,” he said. “We need to be responding just as quickly.” 

Thirteen people died from an overdose by the end of March. According to a “disconcerted” Hasselback, it’s double the rate of 2016, where 28 people passed away by the end of the year. 

He said there’s technological challenges, since testing for fentanyl and carfentanil is difficult and there’s not enough real-time information to anticipate new challenges. 

“It was anticipated there could be challenges like this, they’ve just happened faster than the technical equipment became available,” he said. 

Drug users are also facing a considerable challenge as the amount of fentanyl in their substances change. 

“Individuals who have considerable experience…using injections are now being challenged by the changes to the products they’re using,” Hasselback said. 
The process to turn their overdose prevention site into a safe consumption site, which Hasselback said is crucial to adapting with more difficult times, won’t be quick. After public feedback is given and integrated into the proposal to Health Canada, Hasselback said it could be a year before they are approved. 

Until then, the overdose prevention site will continue.

spencer.sterritt@jpbg.ca
On Twitter: @spencer_sterrit