A big first for the Province – that’s how Nelson’s overdose prevention site (OPS) is being described. Not only is it the first in the Kootenays, but the first in rural BC, explains the site coordinator Vera Horsman. It became fully staffed at the beginning of December with Horsman just arriving here herself for the position.
Although the hours were limited over the holidays, 82 visits were made to the site last month which she describes as “fantastic.”
“This is brand new for the entire Kootenay region, so having that many repeat visits, having that many visits total is a really, really positive number for us and seeing as it is winter, travel is quite difficult in the region.”
People have been travelling from the surrounding areas to the access the site, including from up the Valley, Bonnington and the North Shore. Horsman expects those numbers to increase during the summer.
Although the staff are prepared to handle overdoses, none have happened. Staff and volunteers can also provide visitors with access to supports and services like opiate replacement therapy, drug checking, or trans-connect.
“They can come into the booth and know that they have a safe, completely confidential place to use whatever substance they choose,” Horsman explains. “They know that there’s staff that have overdose response training and crisis management training. They know that we have their back, whatever happens. We can support them. We can also connect them to services.”
Horsman says some have wanted information on those additional supports, for example housing or mental health and counselling. She says the space provides a good atmosphere to check in. “We’ve got the time to talk to people and figure out what it is that they’re interested in or where they’re at.”
Provincial funding has been secured until September for the site which is a pilot project.
It’s located at 101 Baker Street with the current hours of Monday to Thursday 11:00AM-6:00PM. Those will hopefully be extended to include the weekend come summer.
