Overdose prevention measures couldn害羞草研究所檛 have come soon enough to those who are getting a firsthand view of the current drug crisis.

害羞草研究所淪ince it reared its head, we have had clients come in and ask when we will have a service,害羞草研究所� said Clare MacDonald, executive director of Living Positive, the organization that害羞草研究所檚 taken on the task of opening two overdose prevention sites in Kelowna by Friday.

害羞草研究所淣ow our clients are just using behind locked doors 害羞草研究所� jumping into a bathroom somewhere so they can use and get out. And when they害羞草研究所檙e alone behind a locked door, that害羞草研究所檚 when they害羞草研究所檙e in trouble. This has been a long time coming.害羞草研究所�

To date, there have been nearly 40 overdose deaths in Kelowna and more than 600 provincewide.

With the new overdose prevention sites at the Living Positive Resource Centre and the recently vacated Kelowna Health Centre site, those drug users will find a greatly desired measure of safety.

害羞草研究所淭he people who we work with are using substances for many reasons and they害羞草研究所檙e dependant on them,害羞草研究所� said MacDonald.

害羞草研究所淭hey have just as much want to live as others. But we have clients who are coming in and saying they had a friend pass away on the weekend and that害羞草研究所檚 just as tragic to us as it is to them.害羞草研究所�

For those who aren害羞草研究所檛 deeply involved in health services, the overdose prevention site may not sound a lot different than the Supervised Injection Sites that have been making headlines in Kelowna.

Last month Interior Health announced it was looking at opening one at 477 Leon Ave., but it needed to get approvals from Health Canada first.

These emergency response sites are not seeking federal permission.

They are supported by a ministerial order issued on Dec. 9 under the Emergency Health Services Act and Health Authorities Act.

The order directs that health authorities establish overdose prevention sites based on the advice of the Provincial Health Officer in locations of very high risk during the public health emergency declared under B.C.害羞草研究所檚 Public Health Act in April, 2016.

That, however, is not the only difference.

MacDonald explained supervised injection sites provide users with a medical professional who will watch as drugs are injected.

害羞草研究所淚n overdose prevention sites, clients are simply given a safe place to go inside and they can go about their business,害羞草研究所� said MacDonald.

害羞草研究所淪taff will not be watching (consumption) but if an overdose does occur, they will be close enough to prevent brain damage or death by administering naloxone and breathing support.害羞草研究所�

The sites will also offer a conduit to further treatment, if so desired by the drug user.

害羞草研究所淲e are already a conduit to services, where our clients can access harm reduction supplies for injecting and inhaling substances,害羞草研究所� MacDonald said.

害羞草研究所淭hey can come in and get supplies and ask 害羞草研究所榗an you help me get to detox.害羞草研究所櫤π卟菅芯克鶟

Although the model is aimed at harm reduction, it害羞草研究所檚 not always welcomed.

The application for a Supervised Injection Site on Leon Avenue, for example, has already drawn criticism from the business community, with both the Chamber of Commerce and the Downtown Kelowna Association voicing concerns about the location.

They argue it害羞草研究所檚 at odds with creating a vibrant and healthy downtown.

The Rutland business community, which will be close to the Living Positive site, has yet to form a staunch opinion on the matter. Mike Koutsantonis, president of URBA, said that in Rutland there害羞草研究所檚 been a noticeable rise in drug use.

害羞草研究所淚t害羞草研究所檚 standard throughout the whole city that there害羞草研究所檚 been a rise,害羞草研究所� he said.

害羞草研究所淚t害羞草研究所檚 proven by the amount of complaints and the number of needles found in different alleyways. We know there害羞草研究所檚 a rise, but what is the exact need in Rutland? That remains to be seen.害羞草研究所� As a business organization, he said they害羞草研究所檒l examine it further.

害羞草研究所淲e will look into it and see what it害羞草研究所檚 all about. It may be a good thing, or it may not,害羞草研究所� he said.

Health Minister Terry Lake is convinced it害羞草研究所檚 the right choice.

害羞草研究所淚n the wake of a spike in overdose-related 911 calls, and in light of the current cold snap across the province, health authorities are moving quickly to set up overdose prevention sites in communities where a significant number of people have been suffering overdoses,害羞草研究所� said Lake.

害羞草研究所淲e needed to act quickly with this emergency measure to help save people害羞草研究所檚 lives, which is our foremost concern as we continue our work to combat the overdose crisis.害羞草研究所�

Several overdose prevention sites were established in B.C. last week, including three in Vancouver and one in Prince George, with more planned for Victoria and Surrey this week.