Grande Prairie to get first mobile consumption vehicle of its kind
HIV North has been in Grande Prairie for over 30 years. The not-for-profit AIDS service organization is addressing the increasing overdose crisis head-on, with its new supervised consumption services project.
A new mobile consumption site is in the works for the Swan City. The project has been in development for two years now, with an operation date on the horizon as HIV North’s exemption with Health Canada is in its final stages.
“In 2017, Grande Prairie had the highest rates of overdose in Canada,” says Sarah Boxall, Coordinator for HIV North.
“It’s affected our community, it’s affected HIV North. We’ve had individuals brought to our agency who are in the middle of an overdose with staff who had to respond, so we’re hoping to offer this service to have a safe place for individuals to consume their substances.”