Third supervised injection site to open in Vancouver during opioid crisis

VANCOUVER – Drug users in Vancouver now have the option of using a third federally sanctioned supervised injection facility.

The service will be provided daily starting Friday at the Powell Street Getaway, a drop-in centre for people living with mental health and substance use challenges.

Health Canada granted the centre an exemption to the country’s drug laws in May and completed an inspection this week.

British Columbia’s Mental Health and Addictions Minister Judy Darcy says the aim of the service is to prevent overdose deaths and connect people with needed services.

Insite opened in the same neighbourhood as a stand-alone facility in 2003, when a public health emergency was declared over high rates of HIV in the Downtown Eastside.

Another facility, at the Dr. Peter Centre, has also allowed medically supervised injection for years, but the facility did not receive exemption from drug laws until last year.

Note to readers: This is a corrected story. A previous version said Powell Street Getaway is second federally sanctioned supervised injection facility