THUNDER BAY – “Supervised consumption services are provided to individuals who use drugs, and provide a safe location with health care supervision for individuals who have pre-obtained illicit drugs,” said Cynthia Olsen, Thunder Bay Drug Strategy Coordinator.
To help reduce drug overdoses, improve health and lower the amount of healthcare resources used in Thunder Bay, Elevate NWO in partnership with Joseph Esquega Health Centre and Anishnawbe Mushkiki, and NorWest Community Health Centres in partnership with Dilico Anishinabek Family Care are planning to add small-scale integrated supervised consumption services to their existing services for people who use drugs.
In February 2017, the Ontario Integrated Supervised Injection Services Feasibility Study was completed for Thunder Bay and concluded that it was feasible to implement services in multiple locations in Thunder Bay.
“In addition to supervision, individuals are provided with sterile supplies, education on safer use practices, overdose prevention, and intervention, as well as connection to other program and support services such as medical, counselling, treatment, housing, peers, and income support.”
The public is encouraged to provide their feedback to help enhance harm reduction services in local organizations and to gather information about the benefits and how to address concerns about supervised consumption services.
Community consultations will take place from April 9 – 11 from 5:30 pm to 7:30 pm at the following locations:
- April 9, NorWest Community Health Centres, 525 Simpson Street
(a partnership between NorWest Community Health Centres and Dilico Anishinabek Family Care) - April 10, Joseph Esquega Health Centre, 401 Donald St. East
(a partnership between Elevate NWO, Joseph Esquega Health Centre, and Anishnawbe Mushkiki) - April 11, Elevate NWO, 106 Cumberland St. North, Suite 102
(a partnership between Elevate NWO, Joseph Esquega Health Centre, and Anishnawbe Mushkiki)
In addition to the consultations, an online survey is open to the public until April 13. It’s being managed by the Ontario HIV Treatment Network (OHTN) in Toronto.
For more information, and to complete the survey, visit: www.ohtn.on.ca/tb-scs-survey