In remembrance to those lost to B.C.’s toxic drug supply crisis
Monday, August 31, 2026 – On International Overdose Awareness Day, please join us in adding a splash of purple to your spaces in remembrance of the 18,000+ lives lost to B.C.’s toxic drug crisis.
This memorial brings our attention to the important role that overdose prevention sites have in keeping people alive and safe.
PHS Community Services Society’s Pennsylvania Supportive Housing and Suites.
The human cost is devastating
There’s a massive human cost when overdose prevention sites are not available to people with substance use disorders.
Supporters of OPS were devastated to learn earlier this week about the permanent closure of Thomus Donaghy (TD) OPS. A decision made even though 480 overdose responses have occurred at this site since 2021(May 5, 2026, Information Bulletin, VCH) .
Overdose prevention sites are an essential tool in saving lives. As Dr. M-J Milloy said in The Peak, OPS is best suited for areas with high rates of drug use, such as TD OPS. Milloy says this health area has the second-highest rate of overdoses in B.C.
Neighbourhoods suffer when OPS sites are removed because people who use drugs don’t have other options. People with substance use disorders will continue using drugs outside in local parks or open spaces, resulting in more public disorder, paraphernalia and unattended overdoses.
“As an OPS operator, we don’t often see people traveling very far in accessing harm reduction services they need,” says Tanya Fader, Interim Director of Program, PHS Community Services Society. “There’s a higher likelihood that people with substance use disorders with use illicit drugs in outdoor spaces in their neighbourhood.”
What does it look like when OPS is removed from our neighbourhoods?
- Death rates climb as the toxic drug crisis continues
- More discarded needles and other drug paraphernalia in public spaces
- Open drug use in parks, washrooms and bus shelters
- People resort to using drugs alone and overdoses go unnoticed
- Higher demand for emergency responders and hospitalizations
- Reduced community safety due to the lack of access to harm reduction supports
- Higher demand for non-profit services from people seeking a safe place to use drugs
- No access to resources to begin recovery
** Aug 25, 2026, Thomus Donaghy OPS on Helmcken Street, Vancouver, was permanently closed. PHS used social media to advocate for TD OPS to remain open, resulting in over 10,000 views on Instagram.
Using your voice is critical 
While overdose prevention sites remain under attack in our communities, we continue to find innovative solutions to keep people safe, including mobile intervention units that visit outdoor spaces daily with harm reduction services. This one tool being used to fill the gap, but it’s not all that’s needed to support people with substance use disorders.
Today, we remember the 18,000+ lives tragically lost through drug overdoses.
Thank you for your remembrance and your voice.
