Penticton loses its cellphone overdose prevention service due to costly repairs.
The Penticton and Area Overdose Prevention Society (P OPS), which operates as a mobile overdose prevention site and distributes survival supplies, water and coffee, while connecting others with resources, announced that its bus closed the Monday.
The organization first hit the road as Penticton’s first supervised cell injection in 2021.
The organization said in a social media post that it would be operational for the foreseeable future, noting that the bus needed primary maintenance that is ultimately out of its monetary reach.
“This is incredibly provocative in the wake of the change in legislation,” his message reads, referring to the fact that the provincial government has subsidized a significant portion of B. C. ‘s drug decriminalization program, less than a part of the three-year plan. pilot project.
“Our bus was a safe area where other people could just use ingredients safely, out of the public eye and away from criminalization. Our organization will spend the next few days strategizing about our next steps for our community.
In the meantime, P OPS will continue to carry out awareness-raising movements in the absence of the bus.
“However, this satisfies our community’s need for an OPS for public use,” they added. “Remember to never use it alone, practice harm relief strategies, and bring naloxone. “
“We need to thank the network for their continued help in those difficult times and look forward to sharing our next steps soon. “
PAHO has continued to be a pillar in the Penticton network that struggles to replace to better respond to the public health emergency due to the overdose crisis and poison supply, pushing for resources with beds in recovery centers, detox stations, and innovations in shelter resources.
Desiree Surowski, co-founder of P OPS, reached by phone, declined to comment further.
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