New overdose prevention site location to open in Vancouver city centre

The inside of the Molson Overdose Prevention Site is pictured in Vancouver's Downtown Eastside, Thursday, January 16, 2020. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jonathan Hayward

A British Columbia health authority has secured a new permanent location for its overdose prevention site in Vancouver’s city centre after being limited to temporary service for months.

Vancouver Coastal Health says in a statement that the Thomus Donaghy Overdose Prevention Site will be operated by social services provider RainCity Housing at 900 Helmcken Street starting June 1.

The health authority says Vancouver’s city centre has been without permanent overdose prevention services since the last location closed on Jan. 31.

A number of other locations had been considered, including on the St. Paul’s Hospital campus, but Vancouver Coastal Health says that location did not have enough space for a public overdose prevention site, and the hospital is also moving out within a year’s time.

The health authority also says the new location offers outdoor spaces for observed inhalation, described as the most common method of drug consumption.

The Vancouver city centre overdose prevention site has seen more than 149,000 visits and responded to 480 overdoses since 2021.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published May 5, 2026.