While most people filed indoors to avoid -20 C weather, Chad Smith set up a tent near Roxby Park in Rutland and waited for any drug users who might need oversight while they injected.

鈥淲别 had one person 肠辞尘别,鈥� said Smith, who Thursday opened a citizen driven pop-up overdose prevention site with a few other volunteers. 鈥泪迟 was really interesting. The guy said 鈥业 诲辞苍鈥檛 know what is in my stuff. 滨鈥檓 scared and 诲辞苍鈥檛 know what to 诲辞.鈥欌赌�

Smith and the other volunteers at the citizen-run OD prevention site led him into a private area where he could shoot-up, and they waited.

鈥泪 was counting when he went in there, but you have to leave them alone and give them some 辫谤颈惫补肠测,鈥� he said. 鈥泪 was relieved when he got up. I have the training with naloxone kits, but you 诲辞苍鈥檛 want to use 颈迟.鈥�

Other than the one man, the site was relatively quiet, but Smith said he thinks that 颈迟鈥檚 done a great deal to amplify the call for a brick and mortar OD prevention site in Rutland.

鈥淎蹿迟别谤 we finish this week 颈迟鈥檚 back in 滨贬鈥檚 court and they may have a permanent or portable site up sooner than 濒补迟别谤,鈥� he said.

鈥淭丑补迟 is the ultimate goal, we 诲辞苍鈥檛 want a pop up site to 别虫颈蝉迟.鈥�

B.C.'s overdose death count skyrocketed in 2016, and health authorities across the province offered up plans to keep drug users safe. Plans for an Asher Road site in Rutland were introduced and ultimately dashed last month after concerns were raised by tenants in the building.

Those concerns still exist in the neighbourhood.

Tom Patterson works at one of the businesses adjacent to the proposed Asher Road site, and 丑别鈥檚 not sure if there would be any benefit to the neighbourhood if an overdose prevention site was put up.

鈥泪鈥檝e lived in this area my entire life and 滨鈥檝别 seen it go from what was a nicer Rutland to a hangout for the 丑辞尘别濒别蝉蝉,鈥� he said, adding that he frequently finds open drug packets and needles in front of the store.

鈥淣辞产辞诲测 wants a junkie on their doorstep, but that being said they should make some place for them shoot their 蝉迟耻蹿蹿.鈥�

Down the street a little, working at a Rutland pawn shop, Haydn Roberts offered a similar view.

鈥淭丑别谤别鈥檚 a place for it, but I 诲辞苍鈥檛 think here is 颈迟,鈥� he said. 鈥泪 诲辞苍鈥檛 think that it bodes well for any business to have it in a storefront location. It should be low-key where it 飞辞苍鈥檛 affect any 产耻蝉颈苍别蝉蝉别蝉.鈥�

That said, he acknowledge that the detritus from intravenous drug use is already noticeable in the area.

鈥淎 couple times a week I go around and pick up used hypodermics 补苍测飞补测.鈥�

One man, who works in Rutland, pointed out that he had concerns with the pop up choosing to locate itself near to a preschool.

鈥淭丑补迟鈥檚 my kids 诲补测肠补谤别,鈥� said Josh Collins, gesturing to a space across from the park. 鈥淢测 kid goes there. Having guys coming here just for the purpose of shooting up 鈥� 滨鈥檓 like, really? 罢丑别谤别鈥檚 children right 迟丑别谤别.鈥�

Interior Health was not involved in the establishment of the 鈥减辞辫 耻辫鈥� overdose prevention site, but representatives have said they support community driven initiatives delivered appropriately and safely.

鈥淲别 continue to look for a location for an IH overdose prevention site in the Rutland area, to complement the site 诲辞飞苍迟辞飞苍,鈥� said Dr. Silvina Mema, Medical Health Officer, last week.

"In the meantime, we will be working with Living Positive Resource Centre to provide enhanced harm reduction services in the Rutland 补谤别补.鈥�

A brick and mortar OD prevention site was set up at the old Health Services building on Ellis Street last month. An Interior Health representative has said that a small number of people have accessed overdose prevention and harm reduction services there.

鈥淲别 recognize that it can take a while for this population to feel comfortable accessing a new service and anticipate that the number of people using the site will increase over time as awareness and comfort 颈苍肠谤别补蝉别蝉,鈥� read a statement from the health authority.

There are no plans currently for another pop-up to go up.