Following its board meeting on Thursday (June 22) Southwestern Public Health is committing to further exploring consumption and treatment services (CTS) in the region.
Board members unanimously supported the recommendations of a study begun in February of this year to determine the feasibility of locating one or more safe consumption sites in the health unit coverage area.
Medical officer of health Dr. Ninh Tran cautions the region is closing in on an opioid-related death every week.
The significant increase in opioid-related deaths in the Southwestern Public Health region in the past couple of years is due, in great part, to “a toxic supply” advises Dr. Tran.
The health unit notes the rate of all opioid-related harms in the region have been rising since 2016 and surpass the provincial rate.
While St. Thomas Mayor Joe Preston supports the health unit further exploring consumption and treatment centres he has, in the past, indicated he is wary of a safe consumption site in the city.
Preston is Southwestern Public Health board chairman and at a city council meeting back in March, he leaned toward rehab and detox facilities.
A study undertaken by the health unit in February indicated support for consumption and treatment services from municipal partners. However one of those partners who was not identified warned, “Many in the community would say this is great, but just not in my backyard.
“NIMBYism will raise its ugly head in this.”
According to the report, there are four possible locations for such a centre in the city as suggested by persons with lived experience with substance use. Two downtown locations would be near the city’s emergency shelter, The Inn and in the area of Talbot and Elgin streets.
A possible northeast location would be at Burwell and South Edgeware roads, with a southeast location near the Elgin Centre.
Mayor Joe Preston concedes, “This is a very complex issue that require solutions that consider many aspects of support – prevention and treatment, rehabilitation and housing as well.”
The study indicates support for these services locally from people with lived experience of substance use, municipal partners and most of the community members who participated.
Recommendations and next steps include:
- SWPH to consult with local partners on the feasibility and application process requirements of the organizations considering operating a CTS service in the region;
- SWPH to support discussions using local data and study findings to consider potential locations that could host CTS; this potential location must meet the requirements for Federal approval and Provincial funding;
- Pending outcome of consultation process, SWPH to obtain Letters of Support from the respective cities and host locations;
- SWPH to conduct further education, consultation and data collection with general community, business owners/operators, Indigenous community partners, municipalities and other partners on the purpose and expected impacts of CTS;
- SWPH supports providers interested in operating a CTS to complete the Federal Exemption Application and the Provincial Funding Application.
The full report can be accessed here: https://www.swpublichealth.ca/en/community-health/resources/ConsumptionTreatmentServices/Survey-Report-Front-Page-FINAL.pdf
A previous story can be found here https://www.stthomastoday.ca/2023/03/15/62657/
