By Justine Kelsie

Another increase in suspected overdoses, education encouraged

Aug 10, 2018 | 10:31 AM

There has been another spike in drug overdoses in Grande Prairie following a weekend of increased suspected overdoses in British Columbia.

The HIV North Society says it knows of four overdoses in the city on Thursday. This is just days after there were 130 suspected overdose calls in B.C., a record only hit once before in April 2017, according to BC Emergency Health Services. 

Harm Reduction Team Lead Johnathon Fortune explains they are starting to see a trend. If there are increases in southern Alberta or B.C., the Swan City follows a few days later. 

“Hopefully the trend isn’t continuing and, hopefully, it doesn’t get worse today (Friday). Today, we have most hands on deck. We will be hanging out on the street in hot spots in the community with naloxone kits on hand,” said Fortune. 

Education is one of the biggest messages HIV North Society would like to get out to the public, according to Fortune. He wants to drive home that this is a “public health crisis” and it is everyone’s responsibility to look out for each other. 

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“Have naloxone on hand, you never know when you might see an overdose or who is using around you. It is so important to have naloxone on hand,” he said.

Those kits can be had for no cost at pharmacies and at the HIV North office on 102 Street. 

A Supervised Consumption Services (SCS) site is set to open in the fall of 2018 with the organization taking the lead. They are eyeballing the Rotary House area as their main location to park the mobile unit. 

“We are going to have nursing staff on hand meaning less overdose rates in our community. Most improtantly, providing those wrap-around supports too,” Fortune explained. 

On top of being able to use illicit drugs in a safe environment, there will be housing, detox, and treatment supports information available at the site. 

Despite a few rumblings in the community about this type of facility being “coddling” or “enabling” to people with addictions, Fortune ensures that this is false. 

“My hope from the SCS site and from everything we do, people learn from this process and hopefully aren’t so quick to judge those less fortunate than us,” he said. 

The SCS site is set to arrive on November 16 with potential for opening near the end of that month or into December.