Temporary Overdose Prevention Site sees positive results

Additional stats provided by Turning Point show the average number of visits per day to the OPS was 14 during the first week of operations and 15 during the second week.

“I anticipate it will get busier once people become more comfortable and familiar with the service,” says Carmichael. “There have been several overdoses on site that may have resulted in different outcomes but I can’t say for sure. The fact that we haven’t had to call EMS, some of those overdoses might have occurred in a back alley or on a sidewalk somewhere so I’m pretty confident that’s a good indicator.”

In the first two weeks of operations, five suspected opioid overdoses have been reported, in addition to one ‘soft overdose’ which required observation only.

Of the five suspected overdoses, two required observation only, one required oxygen administration via a simple mask, another required oxygen with one dose of naloxone, while a fifth required airway support via oxygen administration and two doses of naloxone.

“They’re coming back to use it and that’s the goal,” Carmichael exclaims. “Keep them safe and build those connections.”

General demographic statistics indicate 50 male users of the OPS up to October 14 and 23 females.

Apparent ethnicities provided show 73 per cent of users have been Caucasian, 25 per cent Indigenous, one percent Black and one per cent Asian.

Red Deer’s temporary Overdose Prevention Site is currently open from 12:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m. daily with plans to open from 8:00 a.m. – 12:00 a.m. starting November 1.

However, stakeholders continue work on establishing a permanent Supervised Consumption Service in Red Deer within the next 12 months.

by Sheldon Spackman

Temporary Overdose Prevention Site sees positive results

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