Vancouver supervised injection site to open 24 hours a day

Insite,Vancouver's supervised drug injection site,willextend its hours duringweeks when social assistance cheques are issued.

Under the six-month pilot project, the health facility will stay open for 24 hours a day, Wednesday to Friday, during these weeks. Right now, it is open each day from 9 a.m. to 3 a.m.

Health authoritiessay the extended hours are in response to the risein overdoses this year especially during weekswhen social assistancecheques are issued.

"We're seeing a dramatic increase in the number of people overdosing atInsiteas well as overdose visits to emergency departments during welfare-cheque week," saidDr. Ron Joe, the health authority'sassociate medical director of substance abuse services.

"In response, we are expanding our hours to determine if this targeted intervention will prevent overdoses."

Overdose crisis

The health authority said itmonitored overdose rates on a week-by-week basis from January to May.

It noteda80 per cent increase in opioid-related overdoses during weeks when welfare chequeswere distributed.

"We don't want people overdosing in an alley or at home whenInsiteis closed between3 a.m. and 9 a.m.," Dr. Joe said.

"If people are going to use illicit substances, it is better that they do so in a supervised environment."

The extended hours will beginWednesday Aug.24.

There have been 433 overdose deaths in B.C. so far this year, which is a 74 per cent increase over this time last year, according to figures from the BC Coroners Service..