Waterloo Region’s first safe injection site could soon be a reality

Waterloo Region could soon be following cities like Toronto, London and Ottawa in opening a temporary Overdose Prevention Site.

In December the province passed a law allowing cities to open temporary Overdose Prevention Sites for immediate relief from the opioid crisis.

The temporary sites are open for 3-6 months with the possibility for renewal once the time is up.

The sites have medically trained personnel on hand to oversee injections and help prevent overdoses and deaths.

Last year 71 people died in Waterloo Region as a result of opioid overdoses.

The local bid is being led by Sanguen Health Centre who are currently involved with a number of outreach programs.

They are currently looking for a suitable location in Waterloo Region.

Violet Umanetz is an outreach worker with Sanguen and is leading the Overdose Prevention Site project.

Umanetz says they have been excited about the idea since the Ontario Government’s announcement in December, “Once we starting looking at some of the sites that were opening in Ottawa in Toronto it was kind of a no brainer for us, there were 71 fatal overdoses last year, we know those were preventable deaths.” said Umanetz.

Currently the Region of Waterloo is looking into a permanent safe injection site that would include a much large array of service beyond supervising injections.

Umanetz says one of the benefits of the temporary site is it will allow the community to better judge if a permanent site is necessary, ” One of the things that we will be able to see with these sites is, will they be used, what services are people asking for, it gives a better idea of what is happening locally.” said Umanetz.

The City of Cambridge has also been active in researching safe injection sites.

City Councillor’s Mike Mann and Frank Montiero are part of task force that went to Toronto to tour several safe injection sites.

Mann says they learned that organization is a major factor in successful integration into the neighbourhood, “There are great lessons to learn, if we are going to have a temporary site let’s make sure it’s something we can operate properly and that people will come and be able use it in the hours they want to use it. ” said Mann.

Mann says, if it’s done well, a permanent site could be the best way forward, “I liked what I saw in Toronto and could that facility fit the Region of Waterloo context? I think if it was done properly that might be possible. ” added Mann.

The temporary concept also has the support from at least some of Regional Council including Councillor Sean Strickland,

“Temporary overdose prevention sites could be part of a comprehensive approach to the Opioid crisis and represent one method of dealing with this important social issue. Prevention, counselling and addiction counselling are also very important components of a comprehensive strategy that would not be offered at temporary overdose prevention sites.” said Strickland.

Councillor Elizabeth Clarke is also supportive of the idea,

“I’m strongly pro safe injection sites and overdose prevention sites, both temporary and fixed, I think the advantages of the temporary model are that those sites can get up and running very quickly. ” said Clarke.

She adds the Region should continue to push for more comprehensive answers, “They (temporary sites) don’t offer the same level of service, and in particular health and addictions supports, that the fixed sites do, for that reason I don’t believe temporary sites can or should replace fixed sites, however they’re better than nothing and can keep people from dying while we work on something more permanent.” said Clarke.

Sangeun Health Services is currently looking for a suitable location to operate.

Umanetz says they are open to operating in Waterloo, Kitchener or Cambridge.