Overdose prevention measures couldn鈥檛 have come soon enough to those who are getting a firsthand view of the current drug crisis.

鈥淪ince it reared its head, we have had clients come in and ask when we will have a service,鈥� said Clare MacDonald, executive director of Living Positive, the organization that鈥檚 taken on the task of opening two overdose prevention sites in 91大黄鸭 by Friday.

鈥淣ow our clients are just using behind locked doors 鈥� jumping into a bathroom somewhere so they can use and get out. And when they鈥檙e alone behind a locked door, that鈥檚 when they鈥檙e in trouble. This has been a long time coming.鈥�

To date, there have been nearly 40 overdose deaths in 91大黄鸭 and more than 600 provincewide.

With the new overdose prevention sites at the Living Positive Resource Centre and the recently vacated 91大黄鸭 Health Centre site, those drug users will find a greatly desired measure of safety.

鈥淭he people who we work with are using substances for many reasons and they鈥檙e dependant on them,鈥� said MacDonald.

鈥淭hey have just as much want to live as others. But we have clients who are coming in and saying they had a friend pass away on the weekend and that鈥檚 just as tragic to us as it is to them.鈥�

For those who aren鈥檛 deeply involved in health services, the overdose prevention site may not sound a lot different than the Supervised Injection Sites that have been making headlines in 91大黄鸭.

Last month Interior Health announced it was looking at opening one at 477 Leon Ave., but it needed to get approvals from Health Canada first.

These emergency response sites are not seeking federal permission.

They are supported by a ministerial order issued on Dec. 9 under the Emergency Health Services Act and Health Authorities Act.

The order directs that health authorities establish overdose prevention sites based on the advice of the Provincial Health Officer in locations of very high risk during the public health emergency declared under B.C.鈥檚 Public Health Act in April, 2016.

That, however, is not the only difference.

MacDonald explained supervised injection sites provide users with a medical professional who will watch as drugs are injected.

鈥淚n overdose prevention sites, clients are simply given a safe place to go inside and they can go about their business,鈥� said MacDonald.

鈥淪taff will not be watching (consumption) but if an overdose does occur, they will be close enough to prevent brain damage or death by administering naloxone and breathing support.鈥�

The sites will also offer a conduit to further treatment, if so desired by the drug user.

鈥淲e are already a conduit to services, where our clients can access harm reduction supplies for injecting and inhaling substances,鈥� MacDonald said.

鈥淭hey can come in and get supplies and ask 鈥榗an you help me get to detox.鈥欌��

Although the model is aimed at harm reduction, it鈥檚 not always welcomed.

The application for a Supervised Injection Site on Leon Avenue, for example, has already drawn criticism from the business community, with both the Chamber of Commerce and the Downtown 91大黄鸭 Association voicing concerns about the location.

They argue it鈥檚 at odds with creating a vibrant and healthy downtown.

The Rutland business community, which will be close to the Living Positive site, has yet to form a staunch opinion on the matter. Mike Koutsantonis, president of URBA, said that in Rutland there鈥檚 been a noticeable rise in drug use.

鈥淚t鈥檚 standard throughout the whole city that there鈥檚 been a rise,鈥� he said.

鈥淚t鈥檚 proven by the amount of complaints and the number of needles found in different alleyways. We know there鈥檚 a rise, but what is the exact need in Rutland? That remains to be seen.鈥� As a business organization, he said they鈥檒l examine it further.

鈥淲e will look into it and see what it鈥檚 all about. It may be a good thing, or it may not,鈥� he said.

Health Minister Terry Lake is convinced it鈥檚 the right choice.

鈥淚n the wake of a spike in overdose-related 911 calls, and in light of the current cold snap across the province, health authorities are moving quickly to set up overdose prevention sites in communities where a significant number of people have been suffering overdoses,鈥� said Lake.

鈥淲e needed to act quickly with this emergency measure to help save people鈥檚 lives, which is our foremost concern as we continue our work to combat the overdose crisis.鈥�

Several overdose prevention sites were established in B.C. last week, including three in Vancouver and one in Prince George, with more planned for Victoria and Surrey this week.