Action now on more drug-consumption sites: Victoria’s public health officer
VICTORIA — Health officials in Victoria are asking for public feedback in a bid to open two supervised drug consumption sites in a city where overdoses are continuing to surpass other regions in the province.
Public health officer Dr. Richard Stanwick said residents can respond to an online survey or provide emailed feedback to the Vancouver Island Health Authority and the city until Dec. 2.
Officials expect to submit applications to the federal government by the end of next month, and a proposal for a third facility may be included, Stanwick said.
“When we were told our death rate was 137 per cent higher than previous years and we were the worst health authority in the province in terms of per capita deaths, it was obvious that we had to do something,” he said Tuesday.