Pubdate: Tue, 21 Jun 2016
Source: Metro (Ottawa, CN ON)
Copyright: 2016 Metro
Contact:  http://www.metronews.ca/Ottawa
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/4032
Author: Joe lofaro
Page: 2

INJECTION SITE TO BE SECURE

Group seeks to address fears as proposal to go to council

The group that is proposing to create a supervised injection site in
Sandy Hill said it will have security on site to address fears about
an increase in drug-related crime - something Ottawa police chief
Charles Bordeleau said is a significant concern.

The Sandy Hill Community Health Centre is gearing up to formally ask
the federal government for an exemption to allow such a site to exist,
but has to win the support of city leaders first.

The site would offer a kit to drug users to inject illicit drugs, such
as heroin, using a clean needle and alcohol swabs under the
supervision of a nurse.

Rob Boyd, director of the centre's Oasis drug treatment program, said
in an interview Monday that he expects to submit a draft security plan
to Bordeleau in the coming days.

The plan would include a mobile security staff member from the centre
equipped with a cell phone who would be responsible for ensuring
visitors are not actively loitering or trafficking illegal drugs in
the vicinity, he said.

"If you do see somebody buying and selling drugs, let us know and we
can respond to that," said Boyd.

Bordeleau told Metro recently that he worries the neighbourhood would
see an increase in drug traffickers preying on vulnerable drug addicts.

"They'll go in, inject their illegal drugs, and then after a period of
time come back out. So it's not as if they're going to be living in a
bubble and being isolated from everything. They come back out into the
community and potentially walking around and hang around that specific
area," said Bordeleau.

"This is not just my concern. This is the stuff that we are hearing
from members of the community that have serious concerns about the
potential impact of crime and disorder issues in their neighbourhood."
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MAP posted-by: Matt