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“I believe if you allow people to stabilize their routine a little bit more by having a secure safe place where they can get their drugs, and cut into the other activities that they might have to do to get their drugs, then there will be much more time for connection,” said Tyndall, in the video.

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On Saturday, Tyndall said they now have eight people using the machine, up from five, who started the trial project about a month ago.

“So far it has been great for them and it is really helping them stabilize and not hustle for drugs like they were a month ago. We wanted to demonstrate the technology works, and it is,” he said.

The machine is available from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m., but Tyndall said it is very secure and he believes it would be beneficial to make it available for 24 hours so people could access it at night.

Tyndall, who has been working with the Downtown Eastside community for 30 years, said he chose people to participate in the program that he knew were at high risk for a fentanyl overdose.

“I was afraid that I would wake up in the morning and hear they had overdosed. They are people with a history of an overdose and tested for fentanyl in their urine, so they are high risk.”

“The biggest challenge we have had is people using drugs in a room by themselves. So with this they can continue using alone without the risk of overdose. They can come, get their medication, and then take it with them.”