Doctors for Safer Drug Policy, made up of Vancouver Island physicians and harm reduction advocates, set up a "pop-up" overdose prevention site outside of Nanaimo's hospital this week. (Jordan Davidson/NanaimoNewsNOW)

By Jordan Davidson

unsanctioned site

Nanaimo pop-up overdose prevention site sees ‘overwhelming community support’

Nov 22, 2024 | 4:18 PM

NANAIMO — Despite a small setback at the start of the week, a pop-up overdose prevention site (OPS) near Nanaimo’s hospital had the desired positive impact, according to organizers.

Doctors for Safer Drug Policy planned to set up an unsanctioned OPS on the grounds of Nanaimo Regional General Hospital (NRGH) on Monday, but had to adjust when they weren’t allowed to set up on hospital grounds, instead establishing the site across the street.

Organizer and Nanaimo-based family and addictions medicine physician Dr. Jessica Wilder told NanaimoNewsNOW they’ve had a busy week, with 22 people using the OPS by Thursday, Nov. 21, and 30 by noon Friday.

“We have had incredible utilization of our site. Other than Tuesday which was a little bit slower in the face of the bomb cyclone, we have had participants accessing this service from open until close every day. We currently have six people who are admitted in the hospital who are accessing the service at this moment.”

Wilder and other volunteers also provided wound care, warm clothing and snacks, as well as connecting users with doctors, housing options, and psychiatric and addiction treatment resources.

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She said they’ve had “overwhelming community support” since Monday, with drivers waving and honking in support, while locals have also dropped off donations including food and warm drinks for volunteers.

A local member of the community hugs Dr. Jessica Wilder in gratitude for providing the service. (Submitted)

Wilder said they also heard from those who live around the hospital who have responded to multiple overdoses near their homes or even in their own yards, including one lady who called 911 for someone who had already passed away.

“For a community member to have to go through something like that three separate times is unconscionable when we have interventions that we know can reduce the rates of public drug use and reduce the rates of overdose in a community.”

Wilder said they plan to continue with “positive disruption to the healthcare system” initiatives like this to show the provincial government the tools needed to save lives are already available.

The central Nanaimo pop-up OPS shuts down on Friday at 6 p.m., however it appears similar interventions will resurface locally.

Wilder said the pop-up OPS received significant support from local advocacy groups like VIU Harm Reduction Alliance and Mom’s Stop the Harm.

Wilder said they’ve received messages from across Canada via social media of other groups interested in following their lead.

“The reality is, this is a very, very easy, simple intervention that anybody can do with some basic training, and so we’re hoping that we can put together a bit of a tool kit that will be publicly accessible domain and support with meetings and Zoom sessions or whatever we need to do to support other people to do this in their community as well.”

The group also had a similar site set up in Victoria outside Royal Jubilee Hospital.

A statement earlier this week from Dr. Réka Gustafson, Island Health’s chief medical health officer, said while they welcome conversations about improving support for substance users, they cannot support the operation of “unapproved clinical service or demonstration on Island Health property.”

“This position is not meant to dissuade advocacy but rather to ensure that all services provided on Island Health property adhere to regulatory, safety, and clinical standards. That is why our Protection Services teams worked respectfully with organizers to ensure their planned activities did not occur on Island Health property,” according to the statement.

The OPS across from NRGH on Boundary Ave. will be open until 6 p.m. on Friday, Nov. 22. (Jordan Davidson/NanaimoNewsNOW)

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jordan@nanaimonewsnow.com

On Twitter: @JordanDHeyNow