By Spencer Sterritt

Nanaimo’s overdose prevention site marks one month anniversary

Mar 1, 2017 | 1:23 PM

NANAIMO — It’s been one month since Island Health opened the doors of their first overdose prevention site in Nanaimo.

Dr. Paul Hasselback, the medical health officer for Central Vancouver Island, said the site at 437 Wesley St. has been used roughly 370 times in the first month.

“At this time we’re only seeing a relatively small portion of (users) and I think ultimately we’d like to be trying to engage within all those in the user community to provide whatever supports are necessary.”

According to Island Health, there are 460 regular and 345 occasional injection users in Nanaimo with nearly 900 regular non-injection users.

Hasselback said as their site gains more traction in the community and knowledge of their location spreads, attendance numbers will likely rise.

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There is certainly a learning curve running the site, he said, and they’re focusing specifically on how they work to accommodate the individual needs of users.

Looking to the future, he said Island Health and overdose prevention staff are looking closely at Bill C-37, which will amend the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act to make it easier to establish a long-term consumption site.

Hasselback said they are beginning to prepare an application for a permanent safe consumption site.

“That provides a bit more service on terms of engagement with the users, in terms of the supports necessary to make other choices to maintain their health,” he said. “We’re looking forward to that process over the next months and year.”

spencer.sterritt@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @spencer_sterrit