Hamilton's overdose prevention site receives extension

Hamilton's only overdose prevention site which was set to close at the end of November has officially received an extension to stay open until the end of January.

That way, it can remainopen during theapplication period for Ontario's morepermanentsupervised drug consumption sites.

The temporary site,whichopened in June, is the first and only place in Hamilton where drug users can inject under professional supervision.

"Itwas a great relief to know what we're going to continue the servicesbecause ... there isn't any alternative," said Denise Brooks, executive director at theHamilton Urban Core Community Health Centre.Thecentre operates the overdose prevention site, locatedat71 Rebecca Street, in partnership with theShelter Health Network.

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In October, the Ontariogovernment said it willfund andrebranda total of 21 supervised drug consumption sites in the province, under a "new consumption and treatment servicesmodel."These sites will replace the supervised consumption services and overdose prevention sites that currently exist.

Questions about the future of these kinds of siteshadswirled in August,after Premier Doug Ford's government said it was "pausing" approvals for new overdose preventionsitesduring a review.

Brooks said the centreisworking on an application for one of thesemore permanentsites. The newgovernment model emphasizes connecting people totreatment and support,she said,which is not significantly different from what the community health centre does now.

The government is interested in receiving theapplicationin December, Brooks said, so everything is confirmed for "go-aheadby the end of January."

621 visits to the site in October

There's been a steady increase in the number of visits toHamilton's overdose prevention site, Brooks said, as people become familiar with the place and build trust.When they started inJune, there were112 visits; inOctober alone, there were 621.Brooks said she expects the number of visits last monthwas in the400s.

Brooksis hopeful their application for a permanentsitewill be approved, butsaid Hamilton needs more than one supervisedconsumptionsite.

She hopes the government will rethink its limit of 21 sites for the wholeprovince, andhopes Hamiltonwill have at least one.

"It would be a verysignificant tragedynot to have one here,"Brooks said.

Opioid-relateddeaths are increasing each year inHamilton, the city says.Last year,87 people diedfromopioidoverdoses in Hamiltonadeath rate72 per cent higher than the rest of Ontario.

In the first three months of 2018, the preliminarynumber ofopioid-relateddeaths was almost two times higher than in the same timeframe last year, according to the city.

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"I know that a city of this size needs more than one site for sure," Brooks said."One site cannot possibly manage the kind of response that's needed here."

In October, two other agenciesinHamilton had alreadyapplied for a more permanent, supervised consumption site that would offer healthcare services and help people get into treatment, according to Hamilton Public Health.