“We just don’t have the space for it”: Geographies of survival and spatial triage in overdose prevention sites

Original research
by
Olding, Michelle et al

Release Date

2023

Geography

Canada

Language of Resource

English

Full Text Available

No

Open Access / OK to Reproduce

No

Peer Reviewed

Yes

Objective

This study explores the role of Overdose Prevention Sites (OPS) within the geographies of survival of vulnerably housed people who use drugs (PWUD).

Findings/Key points

Our findings indicate the need for complementary structural changes as part of overdose responses to reduce the need for spatial triage (i.e., safe, affordable housing and drug decriminalisation) and service innovations to mitigate potential harms (e.g., Expanded drop-in and chill spaces, temporary storage spaces for service users).

Design/methods

Two years (2018–2020) of ethnographic fieldwork and interviews with fifty-five people who work at and/or use OPS

Keywords

SCS/OPS