A safe use site to prevent more overdose or toxic drugs deaths is being looked at for Williams Lake, according to Interior Health.
Leaders from Interior Health (IH) provided an update to Williams Lake city council at their regular council meeting on April 30.
Diane Shendruk, vice president, clinical operation, IH north, Andrew Hughes, executive director, clinical programs, Joseph Savage, executive director, MHSU transformation team, and Trevor Speed, corporate director, facilities management and operations all spoke.
The update began by introducing the 14-person Thompson-Cariboo leadership team, including the new addition of Dr. Peter Bosma, executive medical director, Interior Health north.
The presentation for their update included mental health and substance use services.
Joseph Savage said the topic is timely and offered his condolences, mentioning the recent announcement of a toxic drug alert for the area which was issued earlier in the day on April 30.
“I know it has had a big impact on the community and families that have lost a loved one,” he said.
READ MORE: Fatal overdoses increase in Williams Lake area, drug alert issued
After giving some statistics and the services currently available, he then said Williams Lake has been identified as a potential location for an overdose prevention service based on need.
These are safe use locations for users to consume illicit drugs.
“It’s one of those harm reduction initiatives to try to keep someone alive until there’s a point where they would like to address their substance use issues,” said Savage.
“Community engagement is a key part of that,” he said, noting they want to hear from the community and leadership.
The statistics Savage shared included information on drug use and deaths in the Cariboo Chilcotin local health authority.
In 2012 there were 11 deaths in the area attributed to toxic drugs, this went up to 19 in 2022 and then decreased again down to 13 in 2023. The majority of those deaths (60 per cent) took place in a private residence. Twenty-one per cent were in other residences like shelters and hotels, 15 per cent were outside and four per cent were other inside locations such as a place of business or places like public washrooms.
READ MORE: Tŝilhqot’in leaders call state of local emergency after overdose deaths
The vast majority (71 per cent) of fatalities were aged 30 to 59 years old. Most (76 per cent) were male.
Fentanyl was involved in 80 per cent of the toxic drug deaths, methamphetamine was involved in 50 per cent of the deaths, and benzodiazepine was involved with 46 per cent of the deaths.
More than half of the deaths involved smoking drugs (65 per cent), 11 per cent involved injection, nine per cent of the drug deaths involved oral consumption of drugs and 17 per cent were taken by nasal consumption. The totals add up to more than 100 due to cases when more than one drug or mode of consumption was associated with a death.
In Williams Lake, a range of substance use services are available, including harm reduction, crisis response, addiction medication consultation, substance-use counselling and treatment for all ages, team-based care coordination, youth substance day-treatment, and prescribed medications to treat opioid use disorder.
Both Renner House and Letwilc Ren Semec Centre provide bed-based services.
Renner House can provide a short-stay substance withdrawal program while Letwilc Ren Semec Centre can provide a longer-stay supportive recovery program.
READ MORE: Vigil honours overdose victim, supports family in Williams Lake
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