By Spencer Sterritt

Nanaimo’s overdose prevention site saves more than 30 in first 6 months

Aug 29, 2017 | 4:44 PM

NANAIMO — Nanaimo’s overdose prevention site has been extremely successful in its first six months, according to Island Health.

Dr. Paul Hasselback, medical health officer for Island Health, said there have been 27 overdoses at the site on Wesley St., which is in line with what was expected.

Roughly 4,000 people have come through its doors, with approximately 150 different clients who use the facility.

“It’s become a location where people can come to get information, supplies or have their questions answered about illicit drug utilization or drugs in the community,” Hasselback said. “About as many come just for those conversations and those materials as those who use the site.”

Many who overdose outside the location in Nanaimo’s Old City Quarter neighbourhood are also taken there for help.

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Hasselback said roughly 13 people were brought to the site for intervention by friends or family while having an overdose because it’s “so well-located and appreciated by the community who’s at risk for a severe overdose.”

Less than half of those requiring medical treatment don’t then have to go to the emergency room, which Hasselback said relieves a great strain on Nanaimo’s hospital.

“Often we hear from emergency responders when they go to the site of an overdose that naloxone (which reverses the effect of an overdose) has already been provided by someone else or kits are available at the site. People are aware of and using appropriately naloxone to reverse overdoses in the community.”

Hasselback said he’s seen a major shift in understanding the overdose crisis in a short amount of time compared to previous major health challenges.

“I appreciate so many individuals becoming more aware of someone in their family, friends or neighbours who’ve been affected by the crisis. When it starts becoming something more close to home, we’ve seen more of an appreciation of why all these services, from the prevention right through to expansion of treatment, are necessary.”

He also said the newly formed ministry of mental health and addictions is a recognition the province needs to think differently about how to best combat the crisis.

Island Health’s application to turn the overdose prevention site into a supervised consumption site, which would allow for more services such as counselling, faced a setback when Nanaimo City Council declined to rezone the facility.

Hasselback said the application is still in progress and Island Health will meet with planning groups from the City to find a solution in the fall.

spencer@nanaimonewsnow.com

On Twitter: @nanaimonewsnow