New Westminster is considering what actions it can take to better respond to the overdose epidemic.
According to a report to council from the city’s COVID-19 at-risk and vulnerable populations task force, members of the task force continue to talk about the need to address the dual crisis of the COVID-19 pandemic and the opioid epidemic.
“It was reported that the pandemic has likely contributed to the increase in the overdoses, including in New Westminster,” said the report.
City staff will present a report to council in June that discusses what city departments are doing to address the opioid epidemic. Staff will also seek direction from council about working with Fraser Health on an overdose prevention site and a safe drug supply.
“I think Fraser Health has made it quite clear that during the pandemic they will not be considering community-wide initiatives,” said John Stark, the city’s supervisor of community planning. “But we can still put in place a work program to work with Fraser Health towards those initiatives as we move forward. As part of that report, which will be coming to council in June, we will be talking about what our departments are doing.”
Coun. Mary Trentadue said the sooner these services are put in place in New Westminster, the better.
“It would be really helpful to know right away what the challenges are and what the blocks might be in moving this forward,” she said. “I think this has been a crisis, obviously, for a very long time.”
The emergency operations centre at the Massey complex currently provides an overdose prevention site and a safe drug supply for individuals who are staying at the facility during the COVID-19 crisis.
“There is also the benefit with the current emergency response centre because there is an overdose prevention space as part of that centre and there is a prescribing pharmacy around the drug supply,” Stark told council. “I think some of those could be seen as pilots, with learnings being applied as we look at this on more of a community-wide basis.”
According to Fraser Health’s website, overdose prevention sites are currently located in about seven locations in Abbotsford, Langley, Maple Ridge and Surrey.
“Overdose prevention sites aim to prevent drug overdoses and overdose deaths, and reduce the adverse health, social and economic consequences associated with substance use,” states the website. “Sites provide overdose prevention education, take home naloxone training and distribution, on-site monitoring of people who are at risk of overdose and rapid response where necessary. They also provide harm reduction supply distribution and disposal options, and facilitate referrals to mental health and substance use services.”
