The operator of one of Victoria’s first “pop-up” overdose prevention sites says the pod has been used hundreds of times since it opened last week.
Our Place Society says while there’s only been one actual overdose at its site, it has been used 268 times since opening Dec. 20.
Staff at the shelter say they’ve still witnessed many people experience overdoses in their washrooms and on their front walkway.
The overdose prevention site at Our Place is one of three opening up in Victoria, including a site at Johnson Street Community, formerly Central Care Home, a well as one at Rock Bay.
They were opened by the province in an attempt to combat the record number of deaths caused by illicit drugs as B.C. deals with an unprecedented opioid crisis.
More than 755 people have died of overdoses this year alone, and the deadly opioid fentanyl has been linked to roughly 60 per cent of those deaths.
