London's supervised consumption site a 'step closer' to permanent home
CBC News | Posted: July 6, 2022 8:25 PM | Last Updated: August 12, 2022
Carepoint has relocated to a trailer on York Street in the parking lot of new home
London's supervised drug-use site has relocated to a trailer in the parking lot of the new downtown location as construction continues on the permanent building.
Carepoint Consumption and Treatment Service hopes to move into 446 York St., formerly John Bellone music store, within a year.
"We're one step closer to getting to that final state-of-the-art facility that we are looking forward to," said Megan Van Boheemen, Carepoint's harm reduction services manager.
Carepoint offers daily support for drug users in downtown London — including consumption, counselling and referrals, harm reduction, and testing for HIV and hepatitis C. The program, run by Regional HIV/AIDS Connection, moved into the trailer from 186 King Street last week.
The site see an average of 70 to 75 visits per day, and the trailer is more spacious than the temporary location. An extra booth has been added, making four spaces available for people who are using, said Van Boheemen.
"We want to make sure that everyone has access to this life-saving service and really trying to make that transition easier for them and accessible for them," she said.
'Spectrum' of addiction support
The new location is across the road from a 146-bed men's facility run by Mission Services of London, which offers emergency and long-term shelter.
"I'm glad they're closer by. It's a much needed service in the city," said Peter Rozeluk, executive director at Mission Services of London. "It really is on that continuum of helping people along who are struggling with addiction."
Mission Services of London offers an addiction treatment program for total abstinence out of their Quinton Warner House. Both programs are on the "spectrum" of addiction support, he said.
"They're all on the continuum. We actually need a spectrum because not everybody is going to be ready for an addiction treatment program. Not everyone is going to find a supervised consumption site," Rozeluk said.
"They're all on the continuum. We actually need a spectrum because not everybody is going to be ready for an addiction treatment program. Not everyone is going to find a supervised consumption site," Rozeluk said.
These services keep people "safe and alive for another day," he said. The need extends beyond those experiencing homelessness.
Preventing overdose deaths
Those needs have grown as opioid deaths have increased across Ontario.
In 2020, an average of eight opioid-toxicity deaths took place each month in the London-Middlesex region. By June 2021, that number increased to 12 per month. Ontario saw a 45 per cent increase in opioid overdose deaths in the same timeline.
Carepoint saw 150 overdoses reversed last year, Van Boheemen said. She expects to see an increase in visits in the coming days.
"Harm reduction is the life-saving approach to working with people who use drugs – and it works. It's proven over and over again."
"Harm reduction is the life-saving approach to working with people who use drugs – and it works. It's proven over and over again."