Surrey's first supervised injection site experiences 'steady' first day

SafePoint, B.C.'s third supervised injection site, opened its doors in Surrey for the first time on Thursday.

Keir MacDonald, the deputy director of the Lookout Emergency Aid society, said the site's first ever participant arrived at 7:30 in the morning and that a "steady" stream of people continued to file in throughout the day.

The portable structure includes booths where up to seven people can inject drugs at one time and a waiting area that can accommodate up to four people.

It also provides access to supplies, including new syringes.

The site, housed in a large portable structure, is operated by the Lookout Emergency Aid society and staffed by four people at all times, including a registered nurse.

MacDonald said the site is "based on the InSite model, with more of a campus style."

The site is located next to a variety of other services, including regular primary care services, addictions specialists and housing services.

"The job is now trying to leverage some of the trust and the relationships [people] have built with our staff next door," he said.

MacDonald said that while many participants are accustomed to accessing other services in the area, staff at SafePoint are now focused on making people who want want to access the service feel welcome.

"It's a new space. It's a new look and feel. It's larger. It's got more of a clinical look to it as well," he said.

"The hardest part is literally just getting people to walk through the doors. After that, it's just another space for people to safely use."