VIMHS
Vancouver Island Mental Health Society
Victoria addictions doctor speaks at pop-up OPS
Victoria addictions doctor speaks at pop-up OPS
Victoria addictions doctor speaks at pop-up OPS
Monday 21st April 2025
Dr. Kelsey Roden discusses the importance of overdose prevention sites and the challenges faced by substance users due to toxic drug supplies.
39 minutes
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Get the buttons here!Frontline Efforts in Addiction Medicine: A Conversation with Dr. Kelsey Roden
Episode Overview
- Overdose prevention sites provide a safe space for substance users.
- The toxic drug supply is increasingly dangerous due to contaminants like fentanyl.
- Permanent, well-resourced OPSs are essential for consistent support.
- Political barriers hinder the establishment of necessary harm reduction sites.
- Addressing root causes like housing insecurity and trauma is crucial for improving health outcomes.
The toxic drug supply has gotten so toxic with so many additives and contaminants and high potency fentanyl, that sometimes the medications we have available in the hospital are just not enough
In this episode of People First Radio, Dr. Kelsey Roden, an addictions medicine specialist, shares her experiences and insights from a pop-up overdose prevention site (OPS) near Royal Jubilee Hospital in Victoria. Dr. Roden is part of Doctors for Safer Drug Policy, a group of medical professionals advocating for the establishment of permanent OPSs at hospitals across Vancouver Island.
These sites provide a safe space for individuals to use substances under medical supervision, reducing the risk of overdose and connecting them to necessary care and harm reduction supplies. Dr. Roden discusses the challenges faced by people who use substances, particularly the toxic drug supply laced with high-potency fentanyl and other contaminants. She highlights the importance of having well-resourced, permanent OPSs to provide consistent support and safety for substance users. The episode also features a speech by Dr.
Jess Wilder, co-founder of Doctors for Safer Drug Policy, who emphasises the need for harm reduction and criticises the political barriers preventing the establishment of these life-saving sites. Dr. Roden and Dr. Wilder both stress the importance of addressing the root causes of addiction, such as housing insecurity and trauma, to improve health outcomes for their patients.
This episode provides a compelling look at the frontline efforts to combat the toxic drug crisis and advocate for better support systems for those affected.