Kelowna could soon have a safe injection site, as Interior Health is pushing forward  a multi-tiered plan to combat the mounting number of drug related overdoses.

香蕉视频直播淲e are as we speak conducting a survey with people who use drugs so they can provide input on the idea of a safe injection service,香蕉视频直播� said Dr. Silvina Mema, Medical Health Officer with IHA, noting that the survey will identify the appetite for such a facility and best locations.

The health authority also had a cursory meeting with Kelowna city council on Monday to inform them of where they香蕉视频直播檙e at in the process.

Although the plan is still in the consultation phase, there香蕉视频直播檚 an impetus to get something up-and-running sooner than later, said Mema, noting that Kelowna could see 40 drug related deaths by the end of 2016, doubling the amount of drug-fatalities from the previous year.

香蕉视频直播淭hese are preventable deaths,香蕉视频直播� she said, adding that a safe injection site, if implemented with other measures, could go a long way in lowering that number.

Making it easier to move into action is that the site, once built, will be on a much smaller scale than InSite香蕉视频直播攖he Vancouver safe injection facility.

香蕉视频直播淚t would basically be a stainless steel counter with three or four chairs and one or two nurses there to supervise in case a user needs health care,香蕉视频直播� said Mema.

香蕉视频直播淚t would probably be in a facility where clean needles and things of that kind are already provided.

香蕉视频直播淭his is new. It香蕉视频直播檚 an innovation for Kelowna, if we go ahead and do it here. What is holding us back is planning and also the community香蕉视频直播� we need to engage with the community to move this forward.香蕉视频直播�

In order to open a facility of this kind, the health authority needs to ask for permission from Health Canada to be exempted from Section 56 under the Controlled Drug and Substances Act.

Their application has to include the community perspective, which includes a summary of what neighbours think about the idea.

香蕉视频直播淲e are currently looking for viable sites and then when we know that then we can ask the neighbours,香蕉视频直播� she said.

Although the facility will likely be placed in a commercial neighbourhood, the health authority is prepared for community opposition.

香蕉视频直播淭his is not a straightforward service,香蕉视频直播� Mema said.

香蕉视频直播淭hese are controversial services because it addresses the needs of people who are marginalized and people who are doing something illegal, and there香蕉视频直播檚 a stigma around that.

香蕉视频直播淧eople think these individuals shouldn香蕉视频直播檛 be entitled to health services like others who don香蕉视频直播檛 engage in illegal activity.香蕉视频直播�

And, while the facility would simply be a safe space to inject drugs, it would also provide a bridge for people who use drugs to enter into the health system.

香蕉视频直播淢aybe, eventually, someone would be ready to engage in services like detox and that will put them out of the misery of their addiction,香蕉视频直播� said Mema.

香蕉视频直播淭hey don香蕉视频直播檛 have to look for help, but when they are ready they know it is there if they need it and that香蕉视频直播檚 an advantage because these are people that wouldn香蕉视频直播檛 get it otherwise.香蕉视频直播�

Mayor Colin Basran has expressed support for a safe injection site, but said the city has little to do with any operation. It香蕉视频直播檚 driven by the province and IHA.