September 14, 2026
Dear Ciro Panessa,
Ten years ago the Province of BC declared a public health emergency and ordered regional health services to provide overdose prevention services for the purpose of monitoring persons who are at risk of overdose, and providing rapid intervention as and when necessary, as ancillary health services, in any place there is a need for these services, as determined by the level of overdose related morbidity and mortality (Ministerial Order M488).
Northern Health continues to have the highest rates of unregulated drug deaths in the Province, yet citizens in Prince George do not have access to 24 hour overdose prevention services. Through this letter we the undersigned call on Northern Health to ensure accessible overdose prevention services for both inhalation and injection drug-users 24 hours a day seven days a week.
We ask Northern Health to consider the following:
1. According to the BC Coroner, smoking was the most common mode of consumption in 2026. In Prince George inhalation overdose prevention services are available less than 27% of the time.
2. Northern Health is moving the physical location of the Needle Exchange, yet the new location will only provide injection services which reflects 7% of deaths. While every death is worth preventing, we would like to suggest that the move provides an opportunity to evolve health services with current realities. We urge you to consider adding inhalation services.
3. The POUNDS Project is the only facility in Prince George that accommodates inhalation use, however the outdoor sea-can setting can be particularly challenging during our long northern winters.
4. Safe Streets Bylaw No. 9209, 2021 does not permit open drug use in public places in Prince George. As a result, substance users are moved to locations that are less visible, increasing their risks when overdoses occur. Having designated year-round indoor and outdoor locations for safer substance use will reduce the threats of using alone and mitigate costs of Emergency Services.
5. Rapid interventions and auxiliary health services at accessible overdose prevention sites are more effective to save lives, they provide a pathway towards treatment options, and they are cost effective compared to the cost to dispatch an Ambulance and Fire Truck. Furthermore, they provide a physical location to access peer support networks.
6. The impact of the unregulated drug crisis for First Responders, Bylaw Services and outreach workers is significant, causing exhaustion, burn out and moral distress. In addition, downtown businesses report feeling overwhelmed. This could be alleviated by expanding year-round access to indoor facilities for substance users. In the research project “Places of Belonging Prince George,” we learned that 63% of people without living rooms spent more than 12 hours outside (April and May, 2026) and this is in part because there are insufficient indoor places for people who use drugs.
7. The lack of 24-7 overdose prevention services shifts the financial burden to the City of Prince George. According to the City’s report entitled “Senior Government Downloading and Legislative Changes,” they City has paid more than $1M which could have been prevented with increased overdose prevention services (OPS could have eliminated the need for ambulance, fire truck and increased bylaw enforcement.)
We ask that you respond to our letter by providing 24-7 overdose prevention services for both inhalation and injection users. We recommend indoor and outdoor options.
Respectfully, Signed by 207 people from more than eighteen organizations and businesses.
Akhil Kumar, Alyssa Fajardo, Amanda J P, Dr. Amelia Merrick, Amy Wyn Blanding, Dr. Andreas Krebs, Angel Emile, Annette Russell, Annette Schroeter, Antoinette Prince, April Ottesen, Aryn Duncan John, Aspen Taylor, B Ketlo, Barbara May Tyacke Weselowsky, Barney, Bibiane Francis, Bob Baker, Bob Cutway, Brandy Forget, Brenda Joseph, Brent Morgan, Britt Meierhofer, Browwn Mhann, Bruce Allen, Bryce Kirby, Candace Bellam, Carmen Lea, Carri Babichuk, Carrie McLeod, Cassandra Marsden, Cassie Rae, Catie Zukowski, CC Schielke, Chance Kingsmyth, Changal Laferriere, Chase Higging, Chelsea Tancom, Chris Thip, Chris Studney, Chuck Fraser, Colin Schmidt, Colleen Booth, CoraLee Cotwa, Corey Hardeman, Corrine Woods, Courtney Willier, Curt Smith, Damon Robinson, Dana Schwenning, Daniel Roy, Danielle Willier, Danila Shill, Darra Rosenfrefer, Daryl Goll, David Lambert, Destiny Ghostkeeper, Dev Patel, Deven, Donovan Kelto, Eddie Thomas, Edna Agla, Dr. Elaine Laberge, Elizabeth Clements, Elsie Wiebe, Emily Christensen-Sweeney, Emily Couston, Eric Lopez, Eugenia Penner, Fran Thomas, Fred Loots, Genny Paquette, Grace Burke, Grace Lekwana, Gwen Howard, Hannah Case, Harman, Holly McLeod, Ian, Ivan, Jacquie Gull, Jamie LIlley, Jans Mouge, Jared J McKague, Jasmine Kristoferson, Jason Fletcher, Jayden John, Jenn Matthews, Jennifer Scott, Jesi Janjua, Jessica Skin, Jessie Walker, Jim, Jo Van Winkle, Jocelyn McLean, Jody Soakell, Joe Joseph, John Lyons, Jolene Hansen, Joni Carland, Juanita J Street, Julia Sundell, Julie Sam, Juls Budeau, Justin Gendreau, Karen Schmit, Keaton Freel, Keshawna Garnot, Kevin Lee, Kevin Harms, Kim Schram, Kurt Kristofferson, Kyle Sam, Lauren Gull, Lena Lawrence-Rossetti, Linda Keefe, Linda Langthorne, Lisa Dunne, Lisa Gundah, Lisa Bargy, Lorna Glow, Loura, Lulu Halikowski, Lyah Faouraed, Lynn Clapper, Lynne Affleck, Lynnell Halikowski, Mackenzie Stewart, Mairi Kathleen, Malcolm McColl, Marc Sinclair, Marcus Medhurst, Marge Rose, Mark Thompson, Mariah Curry, Marina L Goings, Mary MacDonald, Matt C, Matthew M, Maybelline John, Megan Roberts, Melanie Joseph, Michelle Jess, Michelle Miller, Michelle Oulette, Michelle Sylvia Voyageur, Miranda Leefree, Morbid Moon, Naiomi McKinnon, Nancy Lilienwesiss, Nancy Alexander, Nate Field, Dr. Nicola Koper, Nicole Semaginis, Nicole Fraser, Niki Hanson, Penelope Nerdorf, Pheonix Parr, Phoebe Kinglsely, Rachel Dw, Rachel Rossetti, Raomona R Morris, Rayelle Stewart, Raymond Brisson, Rebecca Hume, Rebecca Joseph, Rebecca Beuschel, Richard Semaginis, Rick Horth, Riley Willier, Dr. Rob Budde, Robert Couston, Robin Dielissen, Ron Garnot, Roxanne Pierre, Saige Rachel Limatainen, Sarah Hibert-West, Sarah Dawn Ferrey, Selene Maxwell, Shane J Severight, Shantal Leah Jade Lussier, Shantell Lilley, Shaylyn Ghostkeeper, Sheila Gowan, Shen Endo, Sheneil Alexis, Simon Yu, Stephanie Carr, Steven Dubas, Susan Scott, Susan Phillips, Tanya Baraniuk, Dr. Tara Joly, Tim Bennet, Tim Bryce, Tim Fawdenills, Twila Merrick, Valerie Poborsa, Vernon Roberts, Veronica Bock, Viviane Josewiski, Warren Johnny, Wendy Brown, Whitney Vickers, Zac Beaudette, Zoe Meletis