Drop-in addiction clinic opens in the DTES

By Kurtis Doering

Posted February 27, 2017 3:09 pm.

This article is more than 5 years old.

VANCOUVER (NEWS 1130) – A brand new drop-in addictions clinic is opening this week in the heart of Vancouver’s Downtown Eastside.

“Connections” comes complete with an on-site pharmacy and will offer patients opioid replacements like methadone less than two hours after they walk in the door.

Former addict and peer advisor Rob Morgan says having those services in that location is invaluable.

“It has been frustrating on our part because we were scheduled to open up in November and because construction delays and all that [it didn’t happen]. We realize people are dying on the Downtown Eastside every day,” says Morgan.

“Connections will save a lot of lives. We are here, we are open, and we will see you that same day. We can’t ask drug addicts to abstain before they go into detox. They have to be met where they are at [in the recovery process].”

The clinic is the first of two planned for the Downtown Eastside in response to the overdose crisis.

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