Illicit drug users in Guelph are being surveyed as part of an effort looking into the possibility of establishing a safe injection site in the city.
At the same time, an application has been made with the province to set up an overdose prevention clinic.
A safe injection site is considered a permanent facility staffed by medical professionals, while an overdose prevention clinic can be a temporary facility with more peer-to-peer support, but does not necessarily require trained medical professionals.
Unlike a safe injection clinic, an overdose prevention clinic does not require Health Canada approval.
Wellington-Dufferin-Guelph Public Health — along with a number of community partners within the Wellington Guelph Drug Strategy — is leading the effort to identify the need within the community for a possible safe injection site.
Public Health is a partner in Wellington Guelph Drug Strategy and is leading the opioid response pillar of that strategy, said Rita Isley, Director of Community Health and Wellness for Public Health.
A needs assessment survey is currently being conducted with users of illicit drugs in Guelph as part of the information-gathering process, said Isley.
“We want to implement the services and programs that will meet the needs that our community is indicating it requires,” said Isley.
The survey is targeting users of illicit drugs, with the exception of marijuana and alcohol.
The information gathered from that needs assessment will be considered along with consultation from community partners, said Isley, including Sanguen Health Centre, ARCH, Guelph Community Health Centre and The Family Health Team.
No decision about a possible location of a safe injection clinic has been made and if it is determined that Guelph requires a safe injection site, Health Canada approval would be required, said Isley.
One of the Guelph Drug Strategy partners has made an application for an overdose prevention clinic in the city, said Isley.
“At this point in time we are looking at what the community needs are. Based on those needs, we would make recommendations as to what we would want to implement. If it was a site, how we would implement it and where it would best be located,” said Isley.
The needs assessment will provide the information required to make an informed decision on the potential of adding a safe injection site, said Isley.
“We know that something needs to be done. To best respond to what is going on we need to get some more information,” said Isley.
The results of the needs assessment will be presented in a report that is expected in spring or early summer.
The needs assessment will first be completed in Guelph, said Isley, because Guelph has been identified as having more of a substance presence. Dufferin County will be second to receive a needs assessment, then Wellington County.
