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Mayor, local advocates hopeful overdose prevention site can remain open

Guelph site has had over 1,000 visits and reversed seven overdoses since opening 14 weeks ago
20180704 Overdose Prevention Site KA 01
The using room of the Overdose Prevention Site in the Guelph Community Health Centre. Kenneth Armstrong/GuelphToday file photo

Those running a local overdose prevention site are optimistic it will be able to remain open beyond November.

So does mayor Cam Guthrie.

The provincial government informed local health networks on Friday that no new overdose prevention sites can opened, effective immediately. Overdose prevention sites planned for St. Catharines, Toronto and Thunder Bay were put on hold.

The province said last month it is reviewing the program to assess its "merits."

The mayor took to his blog in support of the site, calling it another tool in the toolbox to help fight the opioid crisis.

"The opening of this site has taken away the cloak and dagger aspect of using these drugs, hiding in the shadows where there was zero opportunity for safety to those addicted, or any opportunity to build relationships to give users the ability to obtain the resources required to remove themselves from their addictions," wrote the mayor.

Raechelle Devereaux, Executive Director of the Guelph Community Health Centre, which partnered with other organizations, including ARCH and the Wellington Guelph Drug Strategy, is hopeful the Guelph pilot project can remain open.

If the province does not extend its funding to the Guelph location, located in the GCHC building on Wyndham Street, it will have to close in November.

Since opening 14 weeks ago the site has had over 1,000 visits by 150 different individuals, Devereaux said.

Site staff, who include registered nurses, have reversed seven overdoses and also managed twp medical emergencies, Devereaux said, adding that in addition to supervised injection services, staff are connecting visitors to services, supports and medical care daily.

"The sites – permanent and temporary, are being reviewed by the province, and during this review, sites that have not yet opened have been advised not do so," Devereaux said.

"If the Guelph site is not granted a renewed exemption for our temporary overdose prevention site, we would not be able to remain open. However, it is too soon to suggest that this is going to be the outcome of the review. We were pleased to see that the Ministry did extend London’s exemption for their temporary Overdose Prevention Site last week amidst this review."

The London pilot project had been scheduled to close in August.

Those behind the Guelph site continue to explore the possibility of applying for a federally-funded and approved site. But that process takes longer.


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Tony Saxon

About the Author: Tony Saxon

Tony Saxon has had a rich and varied 30 year career as a journalist, an award winning correspondent, columnist, reporter, feature writer and photographer.
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