Pubdate: Tue, 15 Aug 2017
Source: National Post (Canada)
Copyright: 2017 Canwest Publishing Inc.
Contact: http://drugsense.org/url/wEtbT4yU
Website: http://www.nationalpost.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/286
Author: Brennan Doherty
Page: A8

CITY TRYING FOR EARLY INJECTION SITE OPENINGS

INTERIM LOCATIONS

Officials in Toronto are trying to partially open three safe-
injection sites months earlier than anticipated, due to a rise in
overdoses and deaths.

Dr. Eileen de Villa, Toronto's medical officer of health, said"interim
safe injection sites" will be opened at three Health Canada- approved
permanent sites until renovations to the long-term facilities are complete.

"We' re trying to open them as quickly as possible," she said, adding
that, while she didn't have an exact date, the sites could be up and
running in a matter of days.

Coun. Joe Cressy, a member of Toronto's board of health, said he had
spoken to city health officials about the accelerated opening.

"We are hoping, at this point, to be in a position to have them open
within a week," he said.

Toronto Public Health is opening one of the interim sites. It said in
a statement that the sites will be a safe, hygienic place for people
to inject, under medical supervision, drugs t hey have bought beforehand.

The other two i nterim sites will be at community health centres not
operated by the city.

The effort comes after harm-reduction workers began setting up an
unsanctioned safe-injection site in Moss Park, saying the space is
needed as the city grapples with a string of overdoses and suspected
overdose deaths.

"Yes, we have been seeing an increase - and that's why we're talking
about accelerating and expediting the plans we already had in place,"
de Villa said.

As the interim sites open, she added, staff will work to ensure that
the permanent safe-injection sites open as quickly as possible.

"There are lots of logistics, lots of things that need to be taken
care of," she said - both in opening the interim sites, and preparing
for longer-term facilities.

Da Villa didn't have details on exactly how many staff members would
be present at either interim or long-term facilities.

Last week, harm-reduction workers said immediately opening interim
drug use spaces would save lives while the city's three supervised
injection sites were constructed.

The three permanent safe-i njection sites were originally slated to
open in the fall. Earlier this month, the city announced it would
speed up the opening of all three sites, as well as widening the
distribution of the opioid overdose antidote naloxone to public health
staff, community agencies and first responders.

It also asked local police to consider having some officers carry
naloxone.

A statement from Toronto police deputy chief Mike Federico advised
anyone dealing with an overdose to call 911.

Toronto Public Health's most recent data on opioid fatalities
indicates that 87 people died from opioid use in the first half of
2016, with 135 deaths in 2015.
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