Pubdate: Fri, 25 Nov 2016
Source: Kelowna Capital News (CN BC)
Copyright: 2016, West Partners Publishing Ltd.
Contact:  http://www.kelownacapnews.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1294
Author: Kathy Michaels
Page: A1

DKA OPPOSES SAFE INJECTION SITE

Interior Health is eying up both a spot on Leon Avenue as well as a
mobile unit, for potential safe injection sites, and that has some of
the community concerned.

The Downtown Kelowna Association, which is a not-for-profit Business
Improvement Area association, is coming out in opposition of the
proposed Leon Avenue location that was revealed Thursday.

"THe DKA is opposed to a supervised consumption site being located on
Leon, at the proposed 477 Leon location or anywhere else in that
area," Dan Allen, president of the DKA board said.

"It has been the DKA's number one priority for years to make that area
safer for our members and the public, and to revitalize that area for
development. The DKA is seriously concerned that a supervised
consumption site at that location will undermine public safety in the
Leon area and will present a roadblock to revitalization."

This isn't an unexpected response.

Dr. Silvina Mema, a medical health officer with IHA, told the Kelowna
Capital News in August, that overall community blowback and safe
injection facilities go hand in hand.

"This is not a straightforward service," Mema said. "These are
controversial services because it addresses the needs of people who
are marginalized and people who are doing something illegal, and
there's a stigma around that.

"People think these individuals shouldn't be entitled to health
services like others who don't engage in illegal activity."

While the facility would simply be a safe space to inject drugs, Mema
said, it would also provide a bridge for people who use drugs to enter
into the health system.

"Maybe, eventually, someone would be ready to engage in services like
detox and that will put them out of the misery of their addiction,"
said Mema.

"They don't have to look for help, but when they are ready they know
it is there if they need it and that's an advantage because these are
people that wouldn't get it otherwise."

The health authority has been working to figure out what kind of
service would best suit the needs of this city since incidents of drug
overdose deaths across B.C. recently rose sharply and a state of
emergency was called.

In August Mema said that the death toll was prompting them to get a
variety of injection services up-and-running soon, noting that Kelowna
at that time had already had 20 overdose deaths and could expect to
see 40 by the end of 2016 - doubling the number of drug-fatalities
from the previous year.

She may have underestimated. Earlier this month the Coroners Service
said there had been 37 fatal overdoses to date, with 20 linked to fentanyl.

"These are preventable deaths," Mema said, adding that a safe
injection site, if implemented with other measures, could go a long
way in lowering that number.

Since then, health officials have met with local government, RCMP,
community agencies, people who use drugs, and business associations to
obtain their opinions about supervised consumption in principle.

With that input taken into account, they've found potential locations
- - one being mobile the other at 477 Leon Ave. - and service models,
that could help facilitate the service.

"The proposed locations and service models were selected based on a
combination of operational considerations, feedback received to date
from stakeholders, data on where injection drug use occurs, and
proximity to facilities where harm reduction and/or treatment services
are already being provided to the target population," reads the release.

"The proposed mobile units would allow the service to be provided
through outreach to more than one area of the city."

No decisions have been made yet. This next phase of engagement
involves consulting with stakeholders about the proposed locations,
including people who use drugs, community partners,and the public.

Residents of Kamloops and Kelowna can provide feedback on supervised
consumption services and the proposed locations by visiting the
Interior Health Supervised Consumption webpage and submitting their
opinions through the online feedback form by Dec. 15.

Following the consultation phase a decision will be made on whether to
apply to Health Canada for an exemption to operate supervised
consumption services and, if so, where. The decision will be based on
the comments, a review of overdose data and operational
considerations.bFor more information, visit www.interiorhealth.ca.
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MAP posted-by: Matt