Pubdate: Sat, 25 Jun 2016
Source: Globe and Mail (Canada)
Copyright: 2016 The Globe and Mail Company
Contact:  http://www.theglobeandmail.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/168
Author: Jeff Gray
Page: A16

TORY, SAUNDERS SUPPORT INJECTION SITES

Mayor says rising toll of overdose deaths in Toronto 'cannot be
acceptable to anyone in a caring city such as ours'

Toronto Mayor John Tory and police Chief Mark Saunders are not
opposing a proposal that would see three existing harm-reduction
clinics in the city set up supervised drug-injection sites, where
addicts can shoot up with a nurse looking on.

For months, Mr. Tory and Chief Saunders were non-committal about the
plans, which were announced in March by medical officer of health
David McKeown as a response to an alarming increase in overdose deaths
in Toronto.

But on Friday, after Dr. McKeown released the results of public
consultations on the three proposed small-scale sites, Mr. Tory issued
a statement cautiously supporting the move.

"Supervised injection services have been effective in other
communities in preventing death, illicit drug use and in reducing
health risks, but in accepting their initiation in Toronto, we must
recognize they are only one part of the solution," the mayor said,
calling for more health-care resources for treatment programs from the
province and the federal government.

He said the city's rising toll of overdose deaths was "a human
tragedy" that "cannot be acceptable to anyone in a caring city such as
ours."

Meanwhile, in a letter to Dr. McKeown provided to The Globe and Mail
on Friday, Chief Saunders also expresses support for the proposal,
which is expected to be approved by the board of health and Toronto
City Council in July but must also be authorized by the provincial and
federal governments.

The chief says he will work with health officials on public-safety
plans for the clinics.

"I am supportive of measures that reduce the incidence of overdoses
and death," his letter reads, adding that he hopes that users of the
sites "will be given meaningful opportunities to be treated and
reintegrated into society."

But Chief Saunders also warns that police will be on guard: "While
your report indicates that you anticipate no increase in crime around
the three proposed sites, I will remain vigilant in monitoring
criminal activity in the areas as the project rolls out to ensure the
communities continue to enjoy a high level of public safety."

Last year, a spokesman for Chief Saunders warned that supervised
injection sites can "damage" neighbourhoods. After the most recent
proposal was released in March, the chief's office said only that he
needed more details to make a decision. Chief Saunders also met with
advocates to discuss his concerns.

Councillor Joe Cressy, a champion of the idea and chairman of the
city's drug strategy implementation panel, met with both the mayor and
the chief to convince them of the idea's merits. He said both listened
and studied the issue intently, and came to the same conclusion. So
has the public, he said, noting that consultation sessions in his ward
were dominated by residents in favour of the proposal.

"There's been a tipping point in our country, and certainly in
Toronto, on this," Mr. Cressy said.

The proposal comes as overdose deaths have soared in Toronto.
According to Toronto Public Health, there was a record 258 overdose
deaths in the city in 2014, up from 206 in 2013 and much higher than
the 146 counted in 2004. Health officials blame the rise of the new
and dangerously more potent opioid fentanyl for much of the increase.

The three selected clinics, which already hand out clean needles to
addicts under a city program, are the Works, Toronto Public Health's
main harm-reduction clinic near Yonge-Dundas Square; Queen West
Central Toronto Community Health Centre, near Queen Street West and
Bathurst Street; and South Riverdale Community Health Centre, on Queen
Street East near Carlaw Avenue in Leslieville.

Advocates and health experts say supervised injection sites make fatal
overdoses much less likely. They allow addicts to use their drugs,
obtained by themselves elsewhere, under the watchful eye of a nurse,
who can intervene in the event of an overdose. Drug users also receive
clean needles, to avoid transmitting disease, and potentially other
treatment.

Vancouver has long had supervised injection sites, although its
well-known Insite clinic is much larger than the ones proposed for
Toronto.

Other cities in Canada are discussing the issue, and Victoria and
Montreal have both applied for permission from the federal government
to open similar clinics.
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MAP posted-by: Matt