VANCOUVER — The Bishop overseeing Anglican churches across the Lower Mainland blessed, prayed, and laid her hands on an overdose-reversing naloxone kit in New Westminster, B.C.

The Sunday morning rite, perhaps the first of its kind, may seem unusual. But amidst a worsening opioid overdose epidemic that continues to kill nearly four British Columbians every day — 1,422 last year — experts say it’s a welcome contribution to the crisis.

“Bless this kit, and bless those who will use it,” prayed the Rt. Rev. Melissa Skelton, Bishop for the Diocese of New Westminster, which covers the entire greater Vancouver region.

Making a sign of the cross with her hands above the Tupperware container containing the injectable drug that’s saved thousands of lives, the bishop was joined in the chancel of St. Barnabas Anglican church by parish priest the Rev. Emilie Teresa Smith, as well as Rev. Shannon Tennant, minister for Shiloh-Sixth Avenue United Church.

Both clergy also received training in how to administer naloxone, which is also known by its brand name Narcan and has been made increasingly available to British Columbians.

Smith referred to the unusual Sunday ritual as the “Blessing of the Naloxone Kit,” and described the act as “a sign that we stand with our neighbours, love in the world, overcoming fear and isolation,” in a post to her Facebook account Sunday.

The topic of harm reduction — an approach to substance abuse that prioritizes increasing the safety of drug users, not forcing them to stop using drugs before getting help — continues to be divisive.

Proponents say the model is urgently needed to keep alive people struggling with addictions and mental health issues. But opponents argue it encourages or enables drug abusers to continue using illicit substances, and does not prioritize treatment or recovery programs.

For a church, particularly a high-ranking bishop, to undertake a formal blessing of harm reduction supplies might surprise some faithful, but in fact the crisis affects all communities in the city — not just those on the economic margins.

“The church has always been a voice for people who are marginalized and less heard,” explained University of B.C. Dr. Fiona Choi, a neuroscientist who specializes in mental health and addictions, and is a coach with local faith-based organization Sanctuary Mental Health Ministries. “But it’s also an indication that it’s not just an outreach effort … there are a lot of hidden addictions too, among people who are church members.

“In Vancouver, because this crisis affects all walks of life, spiritual communities are seeing people within their congregations affected by the overdose crisis, whether themselves or family members.”

Choi was one of the researchers involved in Vancouver’s pioneering prescription heroin trial, which paved the way for recent overhauls to federal rules as more physicians want the option to be more available for hard-to-treat patients.

“For a long time, the stigma against drug users has prevented people from opening up,” Choi told StarMetro. “It’s great the church is having these conversations … and recognizing they have a role to play.”

Although people of faith have often been at the forefront of addictions treatment and drug reform advocacy, churches themselves “need to do a better job” supporting people living with addictions, according to Hillary McBride, a therapist in private practice in Vancouver who specializes in linking mental health and spirituality.

McBride is leading at a workshop later this month organized by Sanctuary Mental Health Ministries, one of many ministries on mental health and addictions offered in local congregations.

She said the overdose crisis that has engulfed the city, and many others across North America, isn’t a sidebar to her faith but central to its practice.

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“We need to stop shying away from conversations about mental health, and become better equipped, maybe even the best equipped, informed, and prepared,” she told StarMetro in an email, “as this really is the cornerstone of the teachings of Jesus.

“Our scriptures mandate us to treat people who are hurting as Jesus — and if we’re treating our God anything like the people in this city who are hurting the most, we’re in trouble.”

David P. Ball is a Vancouver-based reporter covering democracy and politics. Email him or follow him on Twitter: @davidpball

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