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According to Interior Health, there were 283 overdose deaths recorded last year – the highest annual total yet.
The province has developed new ways for health care staff to support people with overdose prevention services to prevent tragic and often preventable deaths.
Those services include staff observing drug consumption in a safe and hygienic place, monitoring and responding if there is an overdose, providing naloxone kits and connecting clients to other health care services.
“While we are not establishing permanent overdose prevention services in these facilities, this is an important step to help staff respond to [...] locations that have seen increases in overdoses and overdose deaths,” says Interior Health mental health and substance use practice lead Andrew Kerr.
“We know these are life-saving services [and] have been effective in averting many overdose deaths in BC.”
These services are now being offered on an as-needed basis at Lillooet Hospital, 100 Mile District Hospital, Rocky Mountain Lodge and the Sparwood Health Centre.
These services have been available at the Penticton Mental Health and Substance Use office since this spring.
“I love this part of my job. I appreciate the ability to provide my clients with a service that’s so necessary, in a space that is free from judgement,” says overdose prevention nurse Amanda Perrey.
“I love building relationships with clients and getting to a point where I can talk to them about available treatments and services in a manner and at a pace that works for them.”
According to Interior Health, many of these services rely on word of mouth and building relationships.
But Amanda has had a few people visit the downtown Penticton office regularly.
According to Amanda, one client came in just looking for harm reduction supplies but ended up utilizing all the services.
“He opened up and talked a lot about his substance use, his relationships, his relapse, and the impact on his work. I was really happy when he came back two days later.”
Amanada says she has met people who don’t trust or even fear the health care system but end up coming in and using these types of services which rebuild trust and give them the ability to start making the changes they want in their lives.
To find out how to access these services in Lillooet, 100 Mile House, Penticton, Cranbrook and Sparwood, call 310-MHSU.
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