In 2013, 29 people in Thunder Bay died because of drug and alcohol abuse.
With high levels of addiction in the city, it only makes sense to look at the feasibility of a local supervised safe injection site, said officials behind the launch of a study that will look into the possibility of bringing such a centre to Thunder Bay.
Starting next month surveyors will speak with stakeholders and up to200 injection drug users to determine levels of use, the willingness to use such a site, community acceptance and site designs and location preferences.
The $45,000 study will be done in partnership with the Ontario HIV Treatment Network and coincide with a similar survey being conducted in London, Ont.
At present there are just two legally sanctioned supervised safe injection sites in Canada, both in Vancouver.
At this point, nothing has been decided, said Cynthia Olsen, co-ordinator of the Thunder Bay Drug Strategy.
But it’s worth at least examining, she said on Thursday.
“Currently there are more than 90 established sites in western Europe and Australia,” Olsen said.
They’re proven to work, she added.
They reduce public use of injection drugs and the number of needles discarded in the communities, also aiming to stop the spread of diseases like HIV and hepatitis.
But they do have their limitations, Olsen said.
“They don’t prevent people from using drugs or seeking treatment,” she said, noting there’s no question there will be backlash, which is why public input is an important part of the study..
“Certainly we know these types of services pose public controversy,” she said.
“And there are – and will be – concerns from community members. But we think that’s a valuable part of determining feasibility. So we want to hear all aspects. We want to hear from people in our community that would support this as well as from individuals who have some concerns and what type of information would they need to possibly change their minds.”
Coun. Rebecca Johnson, also a member of the drug strategy committee, said she and her council colleagues still get calls opposing the managed alcohol program provided by Shelter House.
Johnson, who supports both programs, expects a flood of calls.
“Some people will say that it’s a good thing. Some will say what are we doing, and I expect that,” Johnson said, adding she’s heard concern from a couple of fellow councillors questioning whether or not a safe injection site is right for Thunder Bay.
In 2014 the Balmoral Withdrawal Management Services had 2,573 admissions for treatment, a 94 per cent increase over 2013 and the city has one of the busiest needle exchange programs in Ontario, with more than 3,800 clients utilizing the service.
It’s a problem that’s not going away any time soon, said police spokesman Chris Adams.
Adams said police officers deal first-hand every day with the consequences of drug addiction and welcomed the coming report.
“It will allow us as a community to make the right choices,” Adams said.
Sanctioned safe injection sites are exempt under the country’s controlled substance acts.
The study, which will use paid peer researchers who have used injection drugs themselves, is set to begin next month. It will be overseen by UBC’s Thomas Kerr and the University of Toronto’s Sean Rourke. The program could serve as a model for other smaller communities across Canada.
More information on supervised injection services is available at: www.ohtn.on.ca/oisis.
