‘It doesn’t make any sense’: Abrupt closure of Vancouver overdose prevention site surprises community

The abrupt closure of a Vancouver overdose prevention site in the downtown core has come as a surprise to many.

The closure of a Vancouver overdose prevention site less than two years after it opened has come as a surprise to many in a downtown neighbourhood.

Dr. Patricia Daly, the chief medical health officer with Vancouver Coastal Health, said the directive to close the Thomus Donaghy Overdose Prevention Site originated from the building’s owner, Prima Properties.

“It’s really unfortunate now that it has to close,” she said.

CTV News contacted Prima Properties for an interview, but did not receive a response.

The OPS shuttered Jan. 31. It was located in the back of a supportive housing building called the Metson at 1060 Howe St.

Daly said VCH and RainCity, the site’s operator, were only given three weeks to leave.

She added VCH is working to identify another location in the neighbourhood, which she said is critical, because this part of the city has the second-highest rate of overdoses.

“It’s actually the third-highest in the province,” she said.

“And unlike the Downtown Eastside, where we have many such services available, this was the only site open to the public in this neighborhood. We believe it’s essential to find another location to serve the residents in this neighborhood.”

Complaints

Daly said VCH received one complaint at the time the site opened in 2024, but added it had nothing to do with the operation of the OPS.

“The complaint seemed to focus on the people who use the site,” she said. “These are poor people, many suffering from addiction.”

She added VCH had hired security and made sure to keep the area around Howe street clean.

“We actually feel it was a preferred site,” she said. “I visited the block on a number of locations during its operation, and it seemed to be functioning as appropriate.”

Vancouver City Coun. Peter Meiszner said he was invited to a meeting a few weeks ago to hear from neighbours regarding the OPS.

He said neighbours shared complaints about street disorder, open drug use and vandalism, but added he was surprised by the property owner’s decision.

“I’m sure there’s a location downtown in the area that will work, that’s appropriate,” he said.

“It’s just not this. This location, based on what I heard from the neighbours who understand the need for these services … it has to be operated in a way that doesn’t cause street disorder and open drug use outside.”

‘It doesn’t make any sense’

Guy Felicella, a harm reduction and recovery advocate, said the closure will only increase public drug consumption in the neighborhood.

“It doesn’t make any sense,” he said. “This is a big step backward, especially with how toxic the drug supply has become.”

Felicella added, the majority of people who use drugs and access these sites have attempted treatment and recovery numerous times.

He said he worries this will lead to people using drugs in unsafe circumstances, such as in alleys or alone.

“We’re debating the lives of people here,” he said. “Where’s the humanity?”

Site previously moved

The OPS had previously moved from 1101 Seymour St, a city-owned building.

That site opened in 2021, but the city elected not to renew its lease following a rash of complaints over discarded needles and public disorder.

A lawsuit was also filed, describing the site as “ham-fisted operation.”

When the relocated site opened on Howe Street, Mayor Ken Sim said he was disappointed with the new location, and that it should have been located at St. Paul’s Hospital instead.

St. Paul’s Hospital already has an OPS.

Asked about the site’s closure Tuesday, Sim said the city has been consistent in how it’s tried to address the opioid crisis.

“We have to take a holistic approach,” he said. “Sometimes things don’t work for the neighbourhood. You have to provide a lot of services. A lot of which aren’t in the City of Vancouver’s jurisdiction.”

Daly said visiting a hospital for this service isn’t ideal for many drug users, who may not live nearby.

100,000 visits

As drug consumption has shifted, more people are now preferring inhalation over injection, which is something the Howe Street site allowed for.

The OPS was located on top of the parking garage, outdoors, and not visible from the street.

Daly said it’s going to be challenging to find another location with the same characteristics as 1060 Howe St.

Since the site opened in 2021, VCH said there have been more than 100,000 visits, and more than 300 overdoses reversed.

At the time the site closed on Saturday, there were between 400 to 500 visits per week, according to VCH.

“We right now have nowhere else for those 400 to 500 visitors to consume their substances where they can be observed and an overdose can be reversed,” Daly said.

‘Loss of life’

The OPS was operated by RainCity, which said the closure will have a significant impact, “with the loss of life being a very real potential outcome.”

In a statement to CTV News, RainCity said: “As an essential health service, RainCity Housing understands the importance of knowing our place in the community and we want to ensure our service has a minimal impact on our neighbours.”

“We are also operating in the context of the downtown core where there are broader concerns around public safety outside our program’s operations,” the statement continued.

Concerns about public drug use

Jane Talbot, the president of the Downtown Vancouver Business Improvement Association, said she was surprised to hear the OPS was shuttering.

Talbot said she’s concerned how this will impact the community.

“First of all, most importantly, nobody wants to see people suffering, nobody wants to see more overdoses,” she said. “We really don’t want to see an increase in open drug use. It’s really important that the closure of the site does not lead to more people openly using, and we really want to make sure that the people are cared for, but also that the surrounding business community remains safe and stable.”

She added the DVBIA did receive a few complaints related to trespassing and loitering prior to the Howe Street location opening, but had not received anything since.

“It’s been a very long time since we did receive a complaint,” she said.

Talbot reiterated that when a new permanent location is found, it does need to be managed carefully.

“We certainly saw an improved management plan for the Howe Street location, but we cannot go back to the way it was at Helmcken and Seymour streets,” she said. “Without a clear plan, I think we risk more overdoses and more public drug use, and nobody wants that.”

The DVBIA said it will be meeting with VCH in the near future to discuss next steps.

Drug poisonings increase

The closure comes as a potent veterinary sedative called Medetomidine has entered the unregulated drug supply.

Medetomidine has prompted numerous drug poisoning warnings from health authorities across B.C., including the B.C. Centre for Disease Control.

Daly said within the last few weeks, VCH has seen the highest number of overdose calls to B.C. Emergency Health Services since the crisis was declared in 2016.

“It’s certainly still a significant public health emergency,” she said.

Daly said in the meantime, the OPS will operate a mobile van.

“It’s challenging because we do get pushback from neighborhoods who don’t want to locate some of these services,” she said. “What we try and emphasize is that we’re serving people who live in your neighborhood. We’re not bringing people to the neighborhood for these services.”