Victoria drug users welcome supervised consumption plan

Island Health is expected to reveal plans todayto establish thefirst supervised drug consumption services in Victoria.

It's an idea that's been talked about for more than a decade, but much more urgently in the past 12 months, as Victoria recorded the province's highest per capita rate of fatal overdoses.

Two women who are longtimedrug users spoke withOn the Island host GregorCraigieabout what safe consumption services would meanto them.

• B.C. has already eclipsed last year's overdose total
• Victoria demands supervised consumption sites

Loney, 36, and Elizabeth, 18, stayed at Victoria's tent cityuntil it was shut down in August, thenmoved with dozens of other former campers to a new supported housing facility on Johnson Street.

They spoke on condition that they be identified by their first names only.

What difference do you think it would make to have safe consumption sites in Victoria?

Elizabeth: I think itwouldhelp a lot of overdoses from happening. Well, not from happening, but it could save a lot of peoples' lives.

I've seen quite a few. I've had Narcan [which reversesopioidoverdoses] and given a person CPR, which has kind of been scary.

Loney: [In tent city]strangers from off the street they bought their dope and they've got to go somewhere right now because they're dope sick right now.

Instead of going behind a building or behind a garbage can or in one of the outhouses, we had these tents available. They could go in there.

All the supplies were provided. There was somebody there with them so safety and concern were all taken care of.

The underlying factor of safety is on everybody's mind. Like, I just want to get high. I don't want to die.

Would you use a safe consumption site?

Loney: Absolutely, I 'am' the safe consumption site. Anytime that anybody needs somewhere to go, I am one of the first ones to lead the way.

Elizabeth: Yes I would I really dislike when I have to use alone. It scares me, just in case something does happen.I'm not ready to die yet.

When I get high, I like to be able to know that I'm safe and that I can actually relax and take a breath.

Are youworried when you get heroin that it might be laced withfentanyl?

Elizabeth: I expect it to be, to be honest. So I prefer to take small [amounts]at a time and pace myself.

Loney: People have died fromjust smoking it. They go into a state of, we call it the funky chicken, they go into a seizure type area and then the colour of them they go grey, and then their lips turn blue, their breathing is either so slow or shallow. their body gets into such a relaxed state it's almost like they forget to breathe.

So CPR has to beinitializedto them first and foremost and a lot of people don't have any first aid training. None of us do but we're all addicts so we take it upon ourselves.

With files from CBC Radio One's On the Island.

To hear the full interview go toVictoria users welcome supervised drug use service.