More security to patrol area near Vancouver Island overdose prevention site

Additional security guards will soon be patrolling the streets surrounding the overdose prevention site in Duncan, B.C., in an attempt to reduce the negative impact on nearby businesses and neighbours.

DuncanMayor Michelle Staples told All Points Westguest hostDavid Lennamthat while overdose prevention sites are necessary for people's health and safety,they also have a negative impact on other people's lives.

"Trying to find a balance between those two places is something that not only Cowichanbut other communities struggle with as well," Staples said.

The move to add more security guards comes after Island Health and the Cowichanbranch of the Canadian Mental Health Association (CMHA) said in October that they werelooking for a new home for the site because it hadoutgrown its space.

Security services will be provided by Blackbird Security and will be funded by Island Health, according to the mayor.

'Compassion fatigue'

The overdose prevention site is on the corner of a residential street and across from a shopping area. On average, 120 people visit the site each day during the six hours it's open to use drugs.Staff are on hand with clean needles, naloxone, and oxygen masks.

James Tousignant, executive director of Cowichan Valley CMHA, said in October that the site is vital because it saves lives, butit's tough on the neighbourhood. He said neighbours who believe in the service are suffering from "compassion fatigue."

Tousignant said he'd heard from residents who no longer sit on their porch because of disruptive behaviour and have a hard time getting through crowds that gather around the overdose prevention site.

The mayor said Island Health has been working hard to find another location for the site, but it's not easy.

"Therearen't many locations that won't have a negative impact," Staples said while adding that Duncan is a small community with few empty buildings.

Shesaid security guardswill patrol the area until a new location for the overdose prevention site is found.

Click the link below to listen to the full interview: