Pubdate: Thu, 19 Oct 2017 Source: Edmonton Journal (CN AB) Copyright: 2017 The Edmonton Journal Website: http://www.edmontonjournal.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/134 Author: Keith Gerein Page: A3 INNER CITY TO HOST FOUR SUPERVISED INJECTION SITES Alberta's first supervised drug injection sites will open within months at four locations in Edmonton's inner city after receiving approval from Health Canada, the provincial government announced Wednesday. Proponents hailed the news as a "long overdue" step that will save lives and direct more addicts into treatment. The goal is to get three community sites open by late December or early January, while a fourth facility at the Royal Alexandra Hospital is anticipated to open sometime in the spring of 2018. "It's such an important milestone for our province," said Elaine Hyshka, a University of Alberta researcher who has served as a key organizer for the initiative over the past six years. "We are turning a new era on harm reduction efforts here, we are recognizing the seriousness of the opioid crisis and we are doing everything we can to prevent deaths." However, the initiative remains controversial in some circles. Questions persist on how effective the centres will be, particularly when it comes to the province's fentanyl crisis, since the Health Canada approvals are for injectable drugs only. Though fentanyl is being found in an increasing variety of street drugs these days - including injectable drugs - the illicit narcotic is still often ingested in pill form or sometimes found in inhaled products that won't be accommodated at the sites. Critics also noted the majority of fentanyl overdoses are occurring outside the inner city, leading some to wonder if the facilities will end up being a community headache with no significant benefit to the opioid crisis. "This service is not just about fentanyl," said Shelley Williams of Access to Medically Supervised Injection Services Edmonton (AMSISE), which is coordinating the three community sites. "This is for people who are injecting substances in unsafe environments and providing them the opportunity to inject in a safer environment where we can deepen relationships." The three sites backed by AMSISE will be set up at the Boyle McCauley Health Centre, Boyle Community Services and the George Spady Society - agencies that already offer services to clients with substance abuse issues. Williams said a client who visits a site will be asked to check in at a reception area, where they are asked a number of questions, including what type of drug they intend to take. The user will then go into a room with injection stalls, where they will be given a sterile needle. That is followed by time in the recovery room to allow staff to watch for an overdose. Williams said clients are usually calmest in the recovery area, which gives staff a chance to discuss their circumstances and link them to detox, addictions counselling and mental health treatment, if they are ready to accept it. Clients are also given connections to food and shelter and can get medical issues treated. Williams characterized safe injection sites as "one thread in a blanket of services" needed to support people with addictions. The operational cost for the three community sites is pegged at $2.7 million annually, which the province is covering with funding included in the budget to deal with the opioid crisis. The site planned for the Royal Alex, which will be open to admitted patients only, will be the first of its kind at a hospital in North America. Dr. Kathryn Dong, director of the Inner City Health and Wellness Program at the Alex, said hospitals can be a high-risk environment for patients who use drugs. "Expectations of abstinence, inadequately treated pain or withdrawal and the ongoing stigma of drug use make it impossible for patients to implement their normal harm-reduction practices," she said. "Drug use in hospitals typically occurs in private, locked spaces, in a hurry, without access to naloxone or a bystander to call for help."Newshawk: Herb Couch Pubdate: 19 Oct 2017 Source: Edmonton Journal (CN AB) Website: http://www.edmontonjournal.com/ Feedback: http://www.edmontonjournal.com/opinion/letters/letters-to-the-editor.html Address: P.O. Box 2421, Edmonton, AB, T5J 2S6 Copyright: 2017 The Edmonton Journal Author: Keith Gerein Page: A3 Inner city to host four supervised injection sites Alberta's first supervised drug injection sites will open within months at four locations in Edmonton's inner city after receiving approval from Health Canada, the provincial government announced Wednesday. Proponents hailed the news as a "long overdue" step that will save lives and direct more addicts into treatment. The goal is to get three community sites open by late December or early January, while a fourth facility at the Royal Alexandra Hospital is anticipated to open sometime in the spring of 2018. "It's such an important milestone for our province," said Elaine Hyshka, a University of Alberta researcher who has served as a key organizer for the initiative over the past six years. "We are turning a new era on harm reduction efforts here, we are recognizing the seriousness of the opioid crisis and we are doing everything we can to prevent deaths." However, the initiative remains controversial in some circles. Questions persist on how effective the centres will be, particularly when it comes to the province's fentanyl crisis, since the Health Canada approvals are for injectable drugs only. Though fentanyl is being found in an increasing variety of street drugs these days - including injectable drugs - the illicit narcotic is still often ingested in pill form or sometimes found in inhaled products that won't be accommodated at the sites. Critics also noted the majority of fentanyl overdoses are occurring outside the inner city, leading some to wonder if the facilities will end up being a community headache with no significant benefit to the opioid crisis. "This service is not just about fentanyl," said Shelley Williams of Access to Medically Supervised Injection Services Edmonton (AMSISE), which is coordinating the three community sites. "This is for people who are injecting substances in unsafe environments and providing them the opportunity to inject in a safer environment where we can deepen relationships." The three sites backed by AMSISE will be set up at the Boyle McCauley Health Centre, Boyle Community Services and the George Spady Society - agencies that already offer services to clients with substance abuse issues. Williams said a client who visits a site will be asked to check in at a reception area, where they are asked a number of questions, including what type of drug they intend to take. The user will then go into a room with injection stalls, where they will be given a sterile needle. That is followed by time in the recovery room to allow staff to watch for an overdose. Williams said clients are usually calmest in the recovery area, which gives staff a chance to discuss their circumstances and link them to detox, addictions counselling and mental health treatment, if they are ready to accept it. Clients are also given connections to food and shelter and can get medical issues treated. Williams characterized safe injection sites as "one thread in a blanket of services" needed to support people with addictions. The operational cost for the three community sites is pegged at $2.7 million annually, which the province is covering with funding included in the budget to deal with the opioid crisis. The site planned for the Royal Alex, which will be open to admitted patients only, will be the first of its kind at a hospital in North America. Dr. Kathryn Dong, director of the Inner City Health and Wellness Program at the Alex, said hospitals can be a high-risk environment for patients who use drugs. "Expectations of abstinence, inadequately treated pain or withdrawal and the ongoing stigma of drug use make it impossible for patients to implement their normal harm-reduction practices," she said. "Drug use in hospitals typically occurs in private, locked spaces, in a hurry, without access to naloxone or a bystander to call for help." - --- MAP posted-by: Matt