Locations proposed for new supervised injection services in Vancouver

The Vancouver Coastal Health Authority says it has identified two proposed locations where supervised injection services can be provided.

Both locations are already home to services that help drug users.

"It's sort of the opposite model of Insite, where we startedwith supervised injection and then added some of the other services like detox and addiction," said Patricia Daly,chief medical health officer at Vancouver Coastal Health.

"We are now choosing sites that already offer these services and adding the supervised injection as well."

The first proposed location is the DTES Mental Health and Substance Use Drop-in Centre,also called "LivingRoomDrop-In",at 528 Powell St., whichVCH sayswould cater to drop-in patients

The second potential location is the Heatley Integrated Health Centre at the corner of Heatley Avenue and East Cordova St.

That location would primarily serve a limited number of clients, although Daly said the facility's client base will likely increase if the supervised injection service is approved.

"If they came in and they needed to use theservice, we will have the protocols that they can use that service," said Daly. "We're certainly not going to turn anyone away."

Both locations arein the Downtown Eastside and a short walk from one another. They'reslated to open next year.

• On mobile? See a map of the proposedlocations

8 new booths

Daly says each facility would start off with four booths for supervised drug use, with the Powell St. location possibly expanding to six.

"Both sites will have to undergo renovations," said Daly.

Thepotentially 10new booths would addto the 13 already available atInsite, nearly doubling the number of spots for users to consume drugs under supervision.

Focusing on the Downtown Eastside

Vancouver Coastal Health says the two proposed locationsare in the Downtown Eastside because theInsiteis overwhelmed with the number of users that walk in every day.

"We've chosen the sites based on where the majority of overdose deaths areoccurring, where we're seen the most demand," said Daly.

"A majority of the deaths are still occurring in the Downtown Eastside even though we have Insiteoperational there."

Daly saysthat off the 542 calls B.C. Ambulance took from April to August where they had to use theoverdose-reversal drugNaloxone,42 per cent of those were in the Downtown Eastside.

The "LivingRoom Drop-In"is run by the LookoutSociety, a local charity that provides support services.

KeirMacDonald, the group's deputy executive director,says thecentre sees anywhere from 300-400 people a day. He expects that to jump up to at least 500 if the location provides the supervised injection service.

"It was actually the perfect opportunity," said MacDonald.

"We were already under a contract engaging in a renovation process, so we were already upgrading some of the services in the facility."

5 sites promised

Earlier this year, Health Minister Terry Lake announced five new supervised injection sites wouldbe opening in Vancouver, but said the locations would not be named until they are approved by Health Canada.

Vancouver Coastal Health says of the threesites that haven't been announced yet, at least two of them will be located outside the Downtown Eastside.

The health authority says it will be engaging with community stakeholders in early October as part of the Health Canada application process to provide supervised injection services.