Pubdate: Thu, 19 Oct 2017
Source: Edmonton Journal (CN AB)
Copyright: 2017 The Edmonton Journal
Website: http://www.edmontonjournal.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/134
Author: Keith Gerein
Page: A3

INNER CITY TO HOST FOUR SUPERVISED INJECTION SITES

Alberta's first supervised drug injection sites will open within
months at four locations in Edmonton's inner city after receiving
approval from Health Canada, the provincial government announced Wednesday.

Proponents hailed the news as a "long overdue" step that will save
lives and direct more addicts into treatment.

The goal is to get three community sites open by late December or
early January, while a fourth facility at the Royal Alexandra Hospital
is anticipated to open sometime in the spring of 2018.

"It's such an important milestone for our province," said Elaine
Hyshka, a University of Alberta researcher who has served as a key
organizer for the initiative over the past six years. "We are turning
a new era on harm reduction efforts here, we are recognizing the
seriousness of the opioid crisis and we are doing everything we can to
prevent deaths."

However, the initiative remains controversial in some circles.
Questions persist on how effective the centres will be, particularly
when it comes to the province's fentanyl crisis, since the Health
Canada approvals are for injectable drugs only.

Though fentanyl is being found in an increasing variety of street
drugs these days - including injectable drugs - the illicit narcotic
is still often ingested in pill form or sometimes found in inhaled
products that won't be accommodated at the sites.

Critics also noted the majority of fentanyl overdoses are occurring
outside the inner city, leading some to wonder if the facilities will
end up being a community headache with no significant benefit to the
opioid crisis.

"This service is not just about fentanyl," said Shelley Williams of
Access to Medically Supervised Injection Services Edmonton (AMSISE),
which is coordinating the three community sites.

"This is for people who are injecting substances in unsafe
environments and providing them the opportunity to inject in a safer
environment where we can deepen relationships."

The three sites backed by AMSISE will be set up at the Boyle McCauley
Health Centre, Boyle Community Services and the George Spady Society -
agencies that already offer services to clients with substance abuse
issues.

Williams said a client who visits a site will be asked to check in at
a reception area, where they are asked a number of questions,
including what type of drug they intend to take.

The user will then go into a room with injection stalls, where they
will be given a sterile needle. That is followed by time in the
recovery room to allow staff to watch for an overdose.

Williams said clients are usually calmest in the recovery area, which
gives staff a chance to discuss their circumstances and link them to
detox, addictions counselling and mental health treatment, if they are
ready to accept it. Clients are also given connections to food and
shelter and can get medical issues treated.

Williams characterized safe injection sites as "one thread in a
blanket of services" needed to support people with addictions.

The operational cost for the three community sites is pegged at $2.7
million annually, which the province is covering with funding included
in the budget to deal with the opioid crisis.

The site planned for the Royal Alex, which will be open to admitted
patients only, will be the first of its kind at a hospital in North
America.

Dr. Kathryn Dong, director of the Inner City Health and Wellness
Program at the Alex, said hospitals can be a high-risk environment for
patients who use drugs.

"Expectations of abstinence, inadequately treated pain or withdrawal and 
the ongoing stigma of drug use make it impossible for patients to 
implement their normal harm-reduction practices," she said. "Drug use in 
hospitals typically occurs in private, locked spaces, in a hurry, 
without access to naloxone or a bystander to call for help."Newshawk: 
Herb Couch Pubdate: 19 Oct 2017 Source: Edmonton Journal (CN AB) 
Website: http://www.edmontonjournal.com/ Feedback: 
http://www.edmontonjournal.com/opinion/letters/letters-to-the-editor.html 
Address: P.O. Box 2421, Edmonton, AB, T5J 2S6 Copyright: 2017 The 
Edmonton Journal Author: Keith Gerein Page: A3

Inner city to host four supervised injection sites

Alberta's first supervised drug injection sites will open within
months at four locations in Edmonton's inner city after receiving
approval from Health Canada, the provincial government announced Wednesday.

Proponents hailed the news as a "long overdue" step that will save
lives and direct more addicts into treatment.

The goal is to get three community sites open by late December or
early January, while a fourth facility at the Royal Alexandra Hospital
is anticipated to open sometime in the spring of 2018.

"It's such an important milestone for our province," said Elaine
Hyshka, a University of Alberta researcher who has served as a key
organizer for the initiative over the past six years. "We are turning
a new era on harm reduction efforts here, we are recognizing the
seriousness of the opioid crisis and we are doing everything we can to
prevent deaths."

However, the initiative remains controversial in some circles.
Questions persist on how effective the centres will be, particularly
when it comes to the province's fentanyl crisis, since the Health
Canada approvals are for injectable drugs only.

Though fentanyl is being found in an increasing variety of street
drugs these days - including injectable drugs - the illicit narcotic
is still often ingested in pill form or sometimes found in inhaled
products that won't be accommodated at the sites.

Critics also noted the majority of fentanyl overdoses are occurring
outside the inner city, leading some to wonder if the facilities will
end up being a community headache with no significant benefit to the
opioid crisis.

"This service is not just about fentanyl," said Shelley Williams of
Access to Medically Supervised Injection Services Edmonton (AMSISE),
which is coordinating the three community sites.

"This is for people who are injecting substances in unsafe
environments and providing them the opportunity to inject in a safer
environment where we can deepen relationships."

The three sites backed by AMSISE will be set up at the Boyle McCauley
Health Centre, Boyle Community Services and the George Spady Society -
agencies that already offer services to clients with substance abuse
issues.

Williams said a client who visits a site will be asked to check in at
a reception area, where they are asked a number of questions,
including what type of drug they intend to take.

The user will then go into a room with injection stalls, where they
will be given a sterile needle. That is followed by time in the
recovery room to allow staff to watch for an overdose.

Williams said clients are usually calmest in the recovery area, which
gives staff a chance to discuss their circumstances and link them to
detox, addictions counselling and mental health treatment, if they are
ready to accept it. Clients are also given connections to food and
shelter and can get medical issues treated.

Williams characterized safe injection sites as "one thread in a
blanket of services" needed to support people with addictions.

The operational cost for the three community sites is pegged at $2.7
million annually, which the province is covering with funding included
in the budget to deal with the opioid crisis.

The site planned for the Royal Alex, which will be open to admitted
patients only, will be the first of its kind at a hospital in North
America.

Dr. Kathryn Dong, director of the Inner City Health and Wellness
Program at the Alex, said hospitals can be a high-risk environment for
patients who use drugs.

"Expectations of abstinence, inadequately treated pain or withdrawal
and the ongoing stigma of drug use make it impossible for patients to
implement their normal harm-reduction practices," she said. "Drug use
in hospitals typically occurs in private, locked spaces, in a hurry,
without access to naloxone or a bystander to call for help."
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MAP posted-by: Matt