More concerns about overdose prevention site

May 27, 2020 | 4:24 PM

Business groups are keeping the pressure on B.C.’s Health Ministry to relocate the new overdose prevention site (OPS) to Vernon Jubilee Hospital, instead of the current location in the downtown core.

The facility, which is operated by Interior Health and has been open since last week, is located at 3306 32nd Avenue across from Beach Radio and next door to Hogarth’s Pharmacy.

Overdose prevention sites are designed to provide on-site monitoring for people at risk of drug overdoses and allows for rapid response when an overdose occurs.

The Greater Vernon Chamber of Commerce has written to Health Minister Adrian Dix and Interior Health president Susan Brown to say it fully supports Vernon council, which is also opposed to the location, saying “it should not be in a privately owned building where businesses may be negatively impacted.”

“Since the May 11, 2020 announcement on a location for an overdose prevention site, the chamber has been contacted by business owners near the site,” Krystin Kempton, Greater Vernon Chamber president said. “We have heard concerns that customers, and particularly seniors and families, are worried about their safety given the long-standing issues of drug use, loitering and verbal abuse in the area.”

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Kempton said in addition, there is a significant financial impact with two lease negotiations grinding to a halt once the OPS was announced.

“These cancellations mean a potential revenue loss of $175,000 in gross rent over five years for the building owner,” she added.

The business group said it continues to believe an OPS in the downtown core will compound existing safety concerns and decrease property values, particularly at a time when business owners are struggling with the impact of COVID-19.

The chamber is calling for the facility to be located at the hospital, which it notes is within walking distance of downtown, has access to transit and provides a level of anonymity for those who currently use drugs in private.

“Minister Dix and Ms. Brown, we would encourage you to not only listen to the businesspeople expressing concerns but to put yourself in their position for a few minutes and consider how you would react if your career and passion were being negatively impacted. They are sympathetic towards those in need, but they require assurances that they can continue to operate their businesses unimpeded,” Kempton wrote.

“The chamber also supports the position of the City of Vernon that this is not a debate about an overdose prevention site in the community. The issue is strictly focused on the location of the facility,” the statement said.

The chamber is calling for the ministry and IH to have direct discussions with the City of Vernon, the chamber and other organizations in an attempt to create an environment that is healthy for all residents, whether they are OPS clients or business owners.

Vernon Matters has reached out to Interior Health for comment.

by Pete McIntyre

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