Episodic overdose prevention services (eOPS) has been a decade-long vision for founder and executive director of the Coalition of Substance Users of the North (CSUN) Charlene Burmeister, and it’s finally come to Quesnel.
In a safe and inclusive space, substance use has been observed since the beginning of 2022.
It’s another essential tool provided by the Coalition of Substance Users of the North as a toxic drug supply continues to claim lives.
“They are friends, family, colleagues and loved ones to many, and they’re all preventable deaths,” Burmeister said of the latest report provided by the BC Coroners Service.
More than 2,200 British Columbians, an average of six per day, died from toxic drug poisonings in 2021.
It was the deadliest year in the province’s history during the ongoing overdose crisis.
“This current system is not supporting people that use substances in the ways that make sense, which is the reason why we’re in this continued crisis,” Burmeister said.
“It is about a toxic supply crisis and the lack of action by government, organizations and agencies to change policies that actually will support people in better ways to exist, strive and live as substance users.”
Read More: 6 people died per day from B.C.’s toxic drug supply last year
Health authorities have issued numerous overdose alerts for communities in all corners of the province, including Quesnel, warning of highly toxic substances causing heavy and prolonged sedation and requiring more naloxone to reverse.
Going into 2022, Northern Health (NH) warned that highly toxic substances might be further contaminated with benzodiazepines (benzos), which Health Canada describes as a class of substances often used as sedatives and tranquilizers.
“I’m deeply impacted by the coroner’s report, and I just really want to reflect on the importance of the eOPS services that CSUN is now offering to the community,” Burmeister said.
None of the 2021 overdose deaths were reported at supervised consumption or drug overdose prevention sites.
Burmeister believes the eOPS services, which are available Monday, Wednesday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday from 4 p.m. to 10 p.m. in Quesnel, have an effective impact.
Many community members accessing the service have indicated that they feel supported and safe with the option that was not available to them in the past, she said.
In addition to eOPS, CSUN also offers naloxone training, harm reduction supplies, drug testing services and a prescription alternatives advocate program to support people accessing pharmaceutical alternatives to the toxic drug supply.
Read More: B.C. pledges $1M for harm reduction to prevent overdose deaths among construction workers
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