London developing overdose prevention site after public health emergency declaration

The search for a suitable location for an overdose prevention site is underway in London-Middlesex.

The Middlesex-London Health Unit (MLHU) issued a release Tuesday, in the wake of the province declaring the opioid crisis a public health emergency.

The Minister of Health and Long-Term Care moved to allow temporary overdose prevention sites in an effort to prevent deaths by allowing drugs to be consumed in a safer environment.

The local health unit continues to move forward with plans for supervised consumption facilities (SCF) but will develop a temporary overdose prevention site in the interim.

“This is a life and death matter,” said Regional HIV/AIDS Connection director of counterpoint harm reduction services, Sonja Burke.

Tweet This Click to share quote on Twitter: "This is a life and death matter," said Regional HIV/AIDS Connection director of counterpoint harm reduction services, Sonja Burke.

“The provincial announcement to support the immediate opening of overdose prevention sites … is a definitive statement that every life is valuable and harm reduction is a critical part of the addictions continuum.”

The creation of SCFs is still months away and recent local public consultations found a desire to develop a comprehensive approach, with integrated services linking to wraparound support, treatment, and rehabilitation.

“Supervised consumption facilities alone are not going to end the drug crisis. Londoners clearly recognize that,” said MLHU CEO, Dr. Chris Mackie.

Tweet This Click to share quote on Twitter: "Supervised consumption facilities alone are not going to end the drug crisis. Londoners clearly recognize that," said MLHU CEO, Dr. Chris Mackie.

“With the input of neighbourhoods where the need is greatest, combined with new tools that will allow us to begin this work, we are now closer to being able to implement solutions for those at greatest risk.”

Data released on Monday by the Public Health Agency of Canada suggested the crisis is continuing to worsen nationally with at least 1,460 people dying in the first half of the year and the potential for more than 4,000 deaths by the end of the year. That’s a massive increase from the 2,861 opioid-related deaths recorded in Canada in 2016.