As British Columbia continues to navigate the devastating impacts of the toxic drug supply, organizations in Revelstoke are working to lower the number of overdoses using a combination of harm reduction practices.
While it is defined in a few different ways, harm reduction refers to evidence-based policies, programs and practices that aim to minimize the negative health, social and legal impacts associated with drug use. It focuses on working with people without judgment, coercion, discrimination or requiring that people stop using drugs as a precondition of support.
Resources in Revelstoke
Interior Health told the Mountaineer 20 people have died from toxic drugs in Revelstoke since the announcement of the public health emergency in 2016. To combat this number, Community Connections Revelstoke Society on 416 Second St. W. is one of the organizations working on harm reduction.
Siobhan O’Connor, a social justice advocate with Community Connections, told the Mountaineer about the services provided at the organization.
A few years ago Community Connections received funding to be a satellite location of Interior Health BC for harm reduction, providing a fully stocked cupboard including supplies such as injection kits, sharps containers, naloxone kits and take-home fentanyl testing strips, amongst other things.
Community Connections was also able to provide education and awareness at various events like LUNA Sound and the farmers’ market. Since the COVID-19 pandemic, demand for services at Community Connections have increased, which O’Connor said has been challenging for them given the loss of funding and staff shortages.
“There is a lot of community support, but donations to the organization have been down since Covid,” O’Connor said. “So we are trying to work out how the organization can run sustainably with the existing funding that we have whilst the need for services is growing.”
Community Connections continues to maintain their harm reduction cupboard and allows access to those supplies during their drop-in hours of 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. on Tuesdays and 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Thursdays.
O’Connor conveyed the importance of having a more accessible downtown location for aid and resources, in addition to the services provided at the Queen Victoria hospital.
“The hospital can be an intimidating setting to access services and isn’t very easy to get to if people don’t have access to transportation.”
Offering this service where people feel safe and welcomed in a non- judgmental manner is something she feels is an important thing to continue to provide the community.
Community education events
Christine Bell is a community paramedic working for BC Emergency Health Services in Revelstoke. Part of Bell’s role is health promotion and education in the community. With education being an important part of harm reduction, she has offered Naloxone training to the community and businesses that are interested.
In anticipation of Aug. 31, which is international overdose awareness day, Bell and Public Health will have a couple of booths at the farmers’ market on Aug. 24 where people can learn about overdose awareness and prevention.
Bell will also be hosting a public training Aug. 27 from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m., where people can learn to use naloxone kits and get some basic first responder skills. To sign up, email [email protected].
Additionally, she offers private training to any group or individuals interested. Bell gets her training resources directly from Toward the Heart, which is part of the BC Center for Disease Control Harm Reduction programming. On their website you can find information and online courses on how to respond to an overdose and administer Naloxone.
Naloxone kits are available at the Community Connections drop-in location, Revelstoke family pharmacy, Pharmasave and at the public health desk located at Queen Victoria Hospital.
There are also drug checking services, take home fentanyl testing strips and harm reduction supplies available at the public health desk in Queen Victoria Hospital at 1200 Newlands Rd. They have recently started putting the fentanyl testing strips in the washrooms in an effort to reduce barriers to access. If you or someone you know is struggling, visit HelpStartsHere.gov.bc.ca or visit the mental health & substance use centre at 1200 Newlands Rd. For a list of resources and substance use support groups available in the community visit Revelstokelife.ca.
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