A new walk-in clinic for people with opioid addictions and other health issues including HIV and hepatitis C is opening in the Downtown Eastside.
The clinic, called Connections, will be accessible through a door on the alley at an expanded Hope to Health Research Centre at 625 Powell. People will be able to walk into the basement clinic and, without first seeing a doctor, get medication for HIV and hepatitis C, as well as methadone and suboxone for opioid addictions. Take home naxolone kits for treating overdoses from opioids such as fentanyl will also be available.
At Connections, where one wall of the clinic is a colourful mural by indigenous artist Jerry Whitehead, people can be referred to treatment, counselling and other health services.
Connections and an eye clinic are expected to open this spring.
The clinic is part of a bigger effort to take the successful techniques developed by the B.C. Centre for Excellence in HIV/AIDS in reducing the spread of HIV and treating AIDS and apply them to combating the current opioid crisis and a looming one in viral hepatitis.
“We are the grip of a public health crisis – more than 900 people lost their lives to illicit drug overdoses in 2016,” said Health Minister Terry Lake, during the official opening of the $2 million expansion of the Hope to Health Research Centre on Thursday.
He said research developed at the centre into addictions, hepatitis C and HIV has the potential to be put to use throughout the province. Dr. Julio Montaner, director of the B.C. Centre for Excellence in HIV/AIDs, said the centre’s success in dealing with HIV and AIDS allowed it to build a strong addiction medicine component.
“I would like to think we have the strength of the HIV program to support the efforts of our addiction program,” he said.
Montaner said the epidemic of viral hepatitis is “silent but powerful.” He said in North America, hepatitis C is the leading cause of infectious reportable death.
“We have a problem in front of us that is not as tangible as the addiction program but we know it is coming,” he said. “We have to get ready.”
Val Nicholson said 10 years ago, she was homeless, was living on the street and was an IV drug user. Now HIV positive, she said she was able to turn her life around and now helps people in the Downtown Eastside navigate the health system.
Nicholson, who spoke at the official opening, said given the successes B.C. has had in fighting against HIV and AIDS, she hopes the same thing can happen with hepatitis C and addictions.
“It is critical that we continue research in these areas,” she said. “Through research, we can better support individuals who are vulnerable. I really believe our voices are being heard.”