â–ş Listen Live
â–ş Listen Live

PG’s Needle Exchange seeing fewer visits as provincial overdose rates climb

A report released by the BC Coroner’s Service revealed that Northern Health has the highest overdose death rate in the province, at 28 deaths per 100,000 people compared to the average of 22.

However, the report also states no deaths have been recorded at supervised consumption or drug overdose prevention sites.

Prince George’s Needle Exchange says that since overdose prevention services (OPS) were added back in 2016, the number of OPS visits averages 106 per week – over 5,500 each year.

This number has been slowly increasing, and since January 2019 there has been an average of 123 visits per week.

However, since COVID-19 measures were implemented in early March, weekly visits have dropped to roughly 35.

“[The Prince George Needle Exchange] provides a wide range of services. They provide healthcare, harm reduction supplies, and witnessed consumption for people who use injectable opioids,” said Dr. Rakel Kling, Medical Health Officer for Northern Health.

“It’s a really important resource for preventing overdoses… one of the main things that contribute to people dying of overdose is using at home alone,” she added.

Using alone is considered especially risky as there is no one to intervene in the event of an accidental overdose.

A BC-wide study conducted in 2018 found half of the participants who had injected drugs had injected at an overdose prevention site.

The same study found half of the 486 participants reported using drugs alone for reasons such as convenience and comfort, not having anyone else around, and not wanting others to know.

The BC Centre for Disease Control has issued a province-wide drug toxicity alert, making supervised sites increasingly important.

Nine people have died of illicit drug toxicity in Prince George so far this year.

More information on how to prevent drug overdoses can be found on the BC CDC’s Toward The Heart website.

Prince George’s overdose prevention site is located at 1108, 3rd Avenue.

Something going on in the Prince George area you think people should know about?
Send us a news tip by emailing [email protected].

Justin Madu
Justin Madu
Justin is an anchor and reporter with MyPGNow. Born in Kelowna, he has lived in Prince George for over fifteen years. He is a graduate of the UNBC English BA program.

Continue Reading

cjci Now playing play

cirx Now playing play

- Advertisement -

Related Articles

- Advertisement -

Latest News

Mounties make an arrest in relation to Friday’s ambulance-involved collision

The Prince George RCMP has made an arrest in relation to a motor vehicle incident involving an ambulance and a pickup truck. Just after midnight on September 5th, Frontline Police Officers responded to the incident at the intersection of Carney Street and 15th Avenue.

One man arrested in relation to Friday’s Crossroads fire

The Prince George RCMP has made an arrest following Friday's fire at Crossroad's Downtown location."Our Investigative Support Team was diligently working throughout the weekend to process the evidence collected on this investigation and have arrested 57-year-old Richard Titchener in relation to this event," said Cpl. Jennifer Cooper. 

B.C. RCMP report stopping more than 600 impaired drivers this summer

British Columbia RCMP said they removed more than 600 impaired drivers from the roads this summer. 

Wildfire smoke advisory spanning across much of the province

Much of the province is under a special air quality statement due to wildfire smoke. According to Environment Canada, numerous regions are currently being impacted or are likely to be impacted by the smoke over the next 24-28 hours. 

Man receives 90-day driving prohibition after driving toy car down 15th Avenue

On a day where they had their hands full, the Prince George RCMP had to make an interesting traffic stop on Friday.Officers stopped a man driving a toy car down Fifteenth Avenue near Nicholson Street.
- Advertisement -