Victoria drug checking facility marks one year in community, plans to expand
In the fight against the toxic drug crisis, a downtown Victoria drug checking facility has hit its one year anniversary as a storefront.
Substance is a collaboration between University of Victoria students, graduates, and professors. The group checks street drugs to see what is in them, and if they are toxic. It's a service that Dave Keeler says has saved his life.
"You never know what you’re getting out there right now," he said Wednesday.
Substance relies on cutting edge technology to let illicit drug users know exactly what they are taking, and how strong it is.
"This way we empower users of drugs to make an informed decision,” said Substance co-founder and UVic chemistry professor Dennis Hore.
Substance is a storefront drug-checking clinic located in Victoria’s North Park neighbourhood. Its services have become more important than ever because street drugs are more toxic, and less predictable, than ever before, according to advocates.
"There's a reason why it's marked on the side of your beer can how strong it is, it allows you to control how much you're ingesting and the rate you're ingesting it at," said Fred Cameron with Solid Outreach Society.
"When you don’t know what you're getting, it’s too late once you plunge."
Substance celebrated its one year anniversary as a storefront Wednesday. Previously, it was less visible and operated in rotating locations, including basements.
Bruce Wallace is one of its co-founders. He says the new facility is in a more prominent physical location and brings a heightened presence in the community, which is important for reducing the stigma associated with drug addiction.
"The storefront is an anti-stigma campaign in real life," said Wallace. "Being able to not have to hide around drug use and being able to be open and have those exchanges with people."
The service is free and anonymous, and has been busier than ever during the pandemic.
More than 2,200 people died from drug overdoses in B.C. last year, and B.C.’s Chief Coroner, Lisa Lapointe, said Wednesday that a regulated safe supply of drugs is what's needed most to help curb the crisis.
But until that happens on a large scale, sites like Substance are critical, she says.
"[They provide] an ability to help manage their safety," said Lapointe
The team at Substance plans to expand to mobile locations around Vancouver Island to help folks in rural parts of the island manage their safety too.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
What to know about avian influenza in dairy cows and the risk to humans
Why is H5N1, or bird flu, a concern, how does it spread, and is there a vaccine? Here are the answers to some frequently asked questions about avian influenza.
'I was scared': Ontario man's car repossessed after missing two repair loan payments
An Ontario man who took out a loan to pay for auto repairs said his car was repossessed after he missed two payments.
opinion The special relationship between King Charles and the Princess of Wales
Royal commentator Afua Hagan writes that when King Charles recently admitted Catherine to the Order of the Companions of Honour, it not only made history, but it reinforced the strong bond between the King and his beloved daughter-in-law.
Man convicted of involuntary manslaughter in father's drowning, told police he was baptizing him
A Massachusetts man who told police he was exorcising a demon and performing a baptism when he shoved his father's head under water multiple times has been convicted of involuntary manslaughter in his death.
New Norad commander calls Canada's defence policy update 'very encouraging'
American troops will be spending more time training in the Far North, the new commander of Norad says, a strategy that fits 'hand-in-glove' with Canada's renewed focus on Arctic defence.
$70M Lotto Max winners kept prize a secret from family for 2 months
During a special winner celebration near their hometown, Doug and Enid shared the story of how they discovered they were holding a Lotto Max ticket worth $70 million and how they kept this huge secret for so long.
Are Canadians getting sick from expired food?
A new survey by Dalhousie University's Agri-Food Analytics Lab asked Canadians about their food consumption habits amid rising prices.
Documents reveal Ottawa's efforts to get Loblaw, Walmart on board with grocery code
It was evident to the federal government as early as last fall that Loblaw and Walmart might be holdouts to the grocery code of conduct, jeopardizing the project's success.
Charlie Woods, son of Tiger, shoots 81 in U.S. Open qualifier
Charlie Woods failed to advance in a U.S. Open local qualifying event Thursday, shooting a 9-over 81 at Legacy Golf & Tennis Club.