Ipsos Poll Results

In a recent province-wide Ipsos poll conducted on behalf of a community based group called Neighbours of 900 Helmcken, overwhelming data shows that British Columbians have had enough of the BC NDP policies surrounding drug consumption sites.

The polling reveals a strong and growing distrust among the public over what many British Columbians see as a misguided policy on drug consumption sites across BC:

• Just 26 per cent think drug consumption sites are a good use of taxpayer money
• 73 per cent believe that money would be better directed to treatment and recovery services
• Only 19 per cent think the government has done a good job addressing the addiction and overdose crisis

That skepticism is rooted in what people see the sites doing to their communities. A clear majority, 58 per cent, say drug consumption sites have made BC's overall addiction crisis worse, compared to just 7 per cent who say they've made it better.

In addition, the poll conducted July 13 – 17, 2026 of 800 British Columbians showed:

• 70 per cent of respondents are opposed to having a drug consumption site in their community
• 57 per cent say the sites have made crime and street disorder in surrounding neighbourhoods worse, with just 5 per cent saying better
• 69 per cent disagreed with the statement that improvements can be seen as a result of the government spending on addiction and overdose prevention

"This poll demonstrates that British Columbians are ahead of government policy. The scientific evidence increasingly supports a recovery-focused approach, and recent policy changes in Alberta and Ontario have shown that closing consumption sites and focussing resources on other interventions can improve outcomes for both people struggling with addiction and the communities around them,” says Dr. Julian Somers, Clinical Psychologist with expertise in addiction and mental health. “It's time to align public policy with the evidence and give people the opportunity to recover."

Neighbours of 900 Helmcken is a large and growing group of residents and business owners who are opposed to plans to develop a drug injection site across from the city’s largest hotel and within 300 metres of thousands of residential homes. 

What’s happening at 900 Helmcken:

• Vancouver Coastal Health wants to open a 5,500-square-foot drug injection site at 900 Helmcken. The location was chosen without any notice to residents. After public backlash, VCH paused the OPS site, but construction and work on the site has continued during evening hours. $179,000/year in public funds is being paid for the 900 Helmcken lease even during the "pause."
• The OPS planned for 900 Helmcken is not new — it's the third location for the Thomus Donaghy Overdose Prevention Site in five years, with a documented track record of disorder, complaints, and forced closures. It opened at 1101 Seymour Street in 2021, where neighbours reported needles, disorder, and encampments; the City declined to renew the lease and it was forced out. It moved to 1060 Howe Street in 2024, where similar complaints led the building owner to force it out again. Vancouver Coastal Health now wants to bring the same site, with the same history and operator, to 900 Helmcken.
• Residents near 900 Helmcken are not opposed to addiction services. They are asking for the same consultation any neighbourhood would expect before an impactful decision like this is made.
• See more here: https://www.inplainsightbc.com/900-helmcken 

When an overdose prevention site operated at 1101 Seymour Street, Vancouver Police tracked what happened to the surrounding area. At a public community meeting on May 28, 2026, VPD Chief Constable Steve Rai shared the numbers:

• Calls for service to the block increased by 51.3%
• Once the site closed, calls returned to pre-OPS levels
• Violent crime across the entire surrounding district increased by 13% in the first year of operations

Media Contact: neighbours900helmcken@gmail.com