Island Health recently announced they are introducing three ‘Care and Connection Kiosks’ to communities more prone to toxic drug deaths than others.
Victoria, Nanaimo and Campbell River will all get these vending machine-style kiosks to provide life-saving products and services to those who need them.
These machines will give access to harm reduction supplies, information about mental health and substance use services as well as supports and treatment, all for free.
Some examples of specific products that will be accessible through these machines will be condoms, wound care supplies, naloxone kits, take-home drug testing strips, syringes and safe disposal containers.
“We know that shame and blame can keep people who use drugs from asking for help and not accessing the means they need to stay safer – which can often be fatal,” said Jennifer Whiteside, Minister of Mental Health and Addictions.
“These new Care and Connection Kiosks are discreet and always open, making it easier for more people to get the life-saving supplies and treatment information they need where and when they need it.”
The kiosks will be located outside the emergency departments of local hospitals in the three municipalities to receive one. In Victoria, the kiosk will be at the Victoria General Hospital, not the Royal Jubilee Hospital.
The province’s hope is that these machines will further work to reduce stigmatization of drug use and lead to less fatalities at the hand of the toxic drug supply crisis.
“Stigmatization of substance use has led people to consume and die alone, and sadly, people who use alone in our communities are the most at risk of dying from unregulated substances,” says Dr. Réka Gustafson, Island Health’s vice president, Population and Public Health and chief medical health officer.
“Substance use affects the health of our population in multiple ways, and our responsibility is to care for people in a way that will work for them.”
For those wishing to find a way out of their addiction or find resources to help them with their mental health, the kiosks will also have information on treatment, supports, resources and connections to local services.
Each kiosk will be stocked and maintained by a full-time peer support or addiction and recovery worker who is to be hired specifically for the role.
The Campbell River kiosk will be maintained by Andy Speck who is of the ‘Namgis First Nation.
“When groups get together, like doctors, lawyers, athletes, fishermen – they all speak a common language they understand, as do people who use substances,” said Speck.
“When I talk to people, they know almost right away that I know, and I can identify with them, making it easier to build relationships and connect them to supports.”
“We’re missing a real target group, people working in trades, primarily men, who don’t want to be associated with harm reduction services because they worry they could be seen and then lose their job. Having a kiosk like this is amazing and will absolutely save lives,” Speck concluded.
From January to September of this year alone, 304 people have died on Vancouver Island from toxic drug use.
Beginning in the coming weeks, the kiosks will be available 24 hours a day making supplies accessible for all who need them.
