Kelowna could soon have a safe injection site, as Interior Health is pushing forward  a multi-tiered plan to combat the mounting number of drug related overdoses.

91裸聊视频淲e are as we speak conducting a survey with people who use drugs so they can provide input on the idea of a safe injection service,91裸聊视频� said Dr. Silvina Mema, Medical Health Officer with IHA, noting that the survey will identify the appetite for such a facility and best locations.

The health authority also had a cursory meeting with Kelowna city council on Monday to inform them of where they91裸聊视频檙e at in the process.

Although the plan is still in the consultation phase, there91裸聊视频檚 an impetus to get something up-and-running sooner than later, said Mema, noting that Kelowna could see 40 drug related deaths by the end of 2016, doubling the amount of drug-fatalities from the previous year.

91裸聊视频淭hese are preventable deaths,91裸聊视频� she said, adding that a safe injection site, if implemented with other measures, could go a long way in lowering that number.

Making it easier to move into action is that the site, once built, will be on a much smaller scale than InSite91裸聊视频攖he Vancouver safe injection facility.

91裸聊视频淚t would basically be a stainless steel counter with three or four chairs and one or two nurses there to supervise in case a user needs health care,91裸聊视频� said Mema.

91裸聊视频淚t would probably be in a facility where clean needles and things of that kind are already provided.

91裸聊视频淭his is new. It91裸聊视频檚 an innovation for Kelowna, if we go ahead and do it here. What is holding us back is planning and also the community91裸聊视频� we need to engage with the community to move this forward.91裸聊视频�

In order to open a facility of this kind, the health authority needs to ask for permission from Health Canada to be exempted from Section 56 under the Controlled Drug and Substances Act.

Their application has to include the community perspective, which includes a summary of what neighbours think about the idea.

91裸聊视频淲e are currently looking for viable sites and then when we know that then we can ask the neighbours,91裸聊视频� she said.

Although the facility will likely be placed in a commercial neighbourhood, the health authority is prepared for community opposition.

91裸聊视频淭his is not a straightforward service,91裸聊视频� Mema said.

91裸聊视频淭hese are controversial services because it addresses the needs of people who are marginalized and people who are doing something illegal, and there91裸聊视频檚 a stigma around that.

91裸聊视频淧eople think these individuals shouldn91裸聊视频檛 be entitled to health services like others who don91裸聊视频檛 engage in illegal activity.91裸聊视频�

And, while the facility would simply be a safe space to inject drugs, it would also provide a bridge for people who use drugs to enter into the health system.

91裸聊视频淢aybe, eventually, someone would be ready to engage in services like detox and that will put them out of the misery of their addiction,91裸聊视频� said Mema.

91裸聊视频淭hey don91裸聊视频檛 have to look for help, but when they are ready they know it is there if they need it and that91裸聊视频檚 an advantage because these are people that wouldn91裸聊视频檛 get it otherwise.91裸聊视频�

Mayor Colin Basran has expressed support for a safe injection site, but said the city has little to do with any operation. It91裸聊视频檚 driven by the province and IHA.