What's the difference between a supervised consumption site and an overdose prevention site?

In light of the opioidand fentanyl crisis, supervised consumption sites (SCS) and overdose prevention sites (OPS) continue to be the topic ofdiscussion in many communities across the country.

However, permanency and services offered at these sites is what separates them from one another.

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To get aSCSor anOPSwithin a community, the facility looking to get one implemented from public health agencies toorganizations that work in addictions and harm reductionneeds to apply for an exemption to the Controlled Drugs and SubstancesAct, whichallows them to operate freely with out any repercussions from police.

Supervised consumptionsites

A SCSis tailored to be a permanent site.Health Canada's websitehas a list of cities in Canada that have aSCS,as well as cities in the process of getting one.

But theapplication process to Health Canada can be long, complex and take several years. The facility looking to set an SCSneeds to conduct community surveys, consultations with community partnersand have a location selected, amongother steps.

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Once that application is completed, Health Canada grants a one year exemption to theControlled Drugs and SubstancesAct, which allows staffto operate the site freely with out repercussions from the police.

When the exemption expires, Health Canada reviews the facility'srenewal application and can grant it another yearor more, in some cases.

SCSare not limited to one type of consumption under their roof. Some sites will allow injection, oral or intranasal forms of consumption.

A SCSisrequired to havea network of support services at their sites for individuals, such as addiction treatment programs, counsellingand supportfor permanent housing.

Supervised injection site

Waterloo regionis in the process of implementing a supervised injection site (SIS), which is very similar to a SCS.

Waterloo region public health wants the SIS to be a permanent facility thatalso offers a network of support services. The only difference is that the region's SIS will only allow injection as the form of consumption.

"These locations become a place for people who tend to be marginalized in our society and it's a place for people to go and feel like they are not being judged," Grace Bermingham,manager of harm reduction for public health told CBCNews.

"This integrated, wrap-around service is so crucial to the success of these programs in not just saving lives but actually helping peoplemove to a healthier place in their life."

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An estimated 4,000 people in Waterloo region inject drugs, almost half do it on a daily basis.

Berminghamsaid Central Kitchener and South Cambridge are being looked at as ideal spots for a SIS becausethere were more incidents ofopioid related overdosein those areas.

Waterloo region has not sent in their application to Health Canada, but is now taking the next steps to do so.

Two community feedback sessions are scheduled for March 21 at regional headquarterson Frederick Street in Kitchener and April 4 at Cambridge City Hall.

Overdose prevention sites

Health Canada announced inDecember 2017 it would grant exemptions to the province of Ontario to allow temporary overdose prevention sites (OPS) to be operated.

An OPSfacility is meant to address an immediate need in the community and can beset up in a matter of weeks because they don't require community surveys orconsultations and arenot required to have support services like a SCS.

As a result, many communities have been using them as stepping stones to get a permanent SCSsite.

London, for example, was the first city to have a sanctionedOPSin Ontario, which has been in operation since February.

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"We needed something right away," said ShayaDhinsa with Middlesex-LondonHealth Unit. "At least now we are hopefully saving lives and decreasing the spread of infection in the interim."

However, London's OPSgoes above the minimum requirements as they have nurses and EMS on site and offer support services.

Oneof the biggest differencesof anOPSis its lack of permanency. According to the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act, they are granted three to six month exemptions.

This process is also done through the province's Ministry of Health.

Londonrecently picked 372 York St. asthecity'spermanent permanent SCS.

The City of Guelph is following in the same footsteps. They hope to open an OPSin earlyApril with the goal to set up a permanent SCSin the future.