Fraser Health preparing to provide harm reduction programs
Posted January 26, 2014 9:57 am.
This article is more than 5 years old.
ABBOTSFORD (NEWS1130) – Fraser Health is getting ready to roll out harm reduction programs now that the City of Abbotsford has lifted its ban.
Medical Health Officer Dr. Marcus Lem says the plan is to provide the same services they do in other communities. “Being able to distribute supplies for clean needles, also be able to pick up those needles and dispose of them in an organized, safe place. We also want to make sure we’re able to use those provisional harm reduction services to try and help folks to access other services, such as health care and social services.”
Lem says they will also implement a “Good Neighbor” agreement to address any issues with local businesses. “The Good Neighbour agreement puts in place a mechanism by which any concerns can be addressed from the neighbourhood. It also provides a standard for operating in terms of both service and safety and the ability of where and how folks operate.”
He hopes they have programs going soon. A supervised injection site, like the one in Vancouver, is not in the plans.
