Drug users, survivors call supervised consumption sites a lifeline

Nearby the Sandy Hill Community Health Centre, a man named Justin says without supervised drug consumption sites, he'd be more likely to overdose.

He uses the supervised sites across the city almost everyday, mainly the Sandy Hill location. 

Not only does it provide him a safe space to use drugs with supervision from trained professionals, but the support from staff is "wonderful."

"They're right at the front door waiting for me," he said. "'Hey, Justin!' And [they] shake my hand, and it's a nice feeling, man — makes me feel wanted and it makes me feel important."

But last week, the provincial government announced the site at the Somerset West Community Health Centre will have to shut down, one of 10 locations in Ontario forced to do so. 

Ontario Health Minister Sylvia Jones said all sites within 200 metres of a school or childcare centre will be forced to close by March 2025. 

Justin said he was shocked by the announcement and fears other sites in the city could follow suit.

"I'd be very, very lost without it," he said. "Using fentanyl by myself can be very dangerous, because I could overdose and no one's there to see."

Another Ottawa resident, Gerald Jorgensen, told CBC shortly after last week's announcement that he was once a fentanyl user and visited the Somerset West site many times. 

"There was one incident where I overdosed here [at the site], and had I been on the street, I might have died," Jorgensen said.

"But thankfully I was here and I survived. Today I'm in recovery as a result of that."

Now 19 months sober, Jorgensen said he does outreach to those who are homeless, walking around delivering clothes, food, and medical treatment. He also tries to find and help people who want to recover like he did. 

Less options, more risks

Rob Boyd, chief executive officer of Ottawa Inner City Health, said their supervised drug consumption site — known as "The Trailer" —  is the busiest in the city with 150 to 250 visits everyday. 

"We know that these sites are essential in terms of any strategy to combat the toxic drug crisis," Boyd said.

His organization was devastated, he said, when they heard the province's announcement. Boyd said it leaves people who use the Somerset West site with three choices.

"They can inject in public spaces, they can come to the downtown sites or they can inject in their private homes — but that puts them at significant risk of an opioid overdose death," he said.

Now, he's left wondering about the future of his site, constantly worried that the province could very quickly also shut it down.  

Drug lacing a concern

In 2022, Natalie Bergin lost her 21-year-old son William to an overdose.

William was a bright student, a pilot, and had a generalized anxiety disorder, Bergin said. From her understanding, he was only using drugs for two weeks before his death. 

There's absolutely a place for supervised drug consumption sites to increase safety for users, Bergin said — but she wants more. 

"My number one goal is justice for overdose victims and destigmatizing," said Bergin, who created a non-profit organization called Trace the Lace after her son's death.

The group advocates for stronger efforts to stop and punish those selling laced drugs on the street, which she said is contributing to the number of overdoses. 

"We are here to tell people that this is not about politics, this is about our children. This is about a loss that no parent ever wants to go through, and that's the dialogue that we are missing right now."