As notices warning of poisoned drugs are posted weekly in communities across the island, Port Alberni has one of the highest overdose rates in the province.
Ron Merk from the Port Alberni Community Action Team said he was horrified to see the statistics around opioid deaths with 21 people dying from the poisoned drug supply already this year.
“If that trend continues we’ll probably hit 31 by the end of the year and that would be the worst since 2016,” he said. “However, without the OPS and some of the other initiatives that we have in place I just couldn’t imagine what the situation would look like on the street.”
Merk said the Overdose Prevention Site is helping to warn drug users when particularly potent products hit town and they’re able to help people avoid overdose deaths.
He said the OPS along with the Shelter Society, Kuu-us Crisis, Salvation Army and Mental Health are working together to help people get off drugs, but permanent housing is going to be the solution.
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