Expand British Columbia's supervised sites beyond overseeing only injection drugs, advocates say

By Geordon Omand

Harm reduction advocates are calling on the government of British Columbia to expand the scope of its safe-injection facilities beyond supervising only intravenous drug use, but medical officials say the focus should remain on needles because they pose the biggest health risk.

B.C. has been wracked by an overdose crisis that has claimed more than 550 lives since the beginning of 2016. About 60 per cent of those deaths have been linked to the opioid fentanyl, which has been detected in virtually every type of street drug, regardless of how the substance is consumed.

Ann Livingston, a harm-reduction worker in Vancouver, said people with addictions should have a place to go where they can feel safe using, whether they snort, smoke or inject their drugs.

“Anyone who’s doing anything needs to do it safely,” she said.

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Thumbnail: Flickr CC Nick Kenrick