COURTENAY, B.C.-Island Health says there have been more than 100,000 visits, and no deaths, at its overdose prevention sites. Of those visits there have been a total of 820 overdose reversals.
The first of the nine sites opened in Victoria in 2016, with the ones in Campbell River and Courtenay opening in May and March of last year respectively.
Since it opened the site in Campbell River has seen 505 visits, 12 overdose reversals inside the building and another one that happened near it. The Courtenay site has seen 584 visits, 20 overdose reversals inside the building and another three near it.
The sites provide people a place where they can use drugs under trained supervision and also offer a full suite of health services, including referrals to mental health counselling, support, and treatment.
Island Health Chief Medical Health Officer Dr. Richard Stanwick says the sites save lives and are one of many tools being used to tackle the opioid crisis. More than 1,400 people died of drug overdoses in British Columbia last year, 232 of which happened on the Island.
