London’s board of health has endorsed moving forward with the idea of setting up a supervised injection site (SIS) in the city.
During its meeting Thursday night, the board received the results of a year-long feasibility study by the Regional HIV/Aids Connection (RHAC) and the Ontario HIV Treatment Network (OHTN) that was initially released to the public the previous week.
The study recommended setting up a site in Old East or the downtown that would provide clean needles and supervision by nurses who could respond in overdose cases. Researchers have said the supervised sites, like two already in operation in Vancouver, help to reduce the transmission of illnesses like HIV and hepatitis C.
Of the roughly 200 drug injection users surveyed in the London study, 86 per cent said they would make use of a supervised injection site.
The board directed staff to explore next steps in assessing the feasibility of the integrated SIS model in London and potential locations.
Editors Note: This story has been updated to reflect that the board of health received but did not review the results of the feasibility study during Thursday’s meeting.
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