Unsanctioned overdose prevention site opens in Parkdale

Harm reduction activists announced the opening of an unsanctioned overdose prevention site (OPS) in Parkdale on Monday, a week after the Ontario government pressed pause on the program.

In a joint release, the Toronto Overdose Prevention Society and the Toronto Harm Reduction Alliance said they were forced to open the unofficial site after the “legally sanctioned and funded OPS” set to open at the Parkdale Queen West Community Health Centre on Aug. 13 was blocked by the Ontario Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care.

Last week, Minister of Health Christine Elliott said the opening of three sites across Ontario, including Thunder Bay, St. Catharines and the one at Parkdale, was on hold as the government decides if they “have merit.” She said a review will be conducted that will look at a number of factors, including the facilities’ role in getting people into drug treatment programs.

“Where does Minister of Health Christine Elliott think people go when they want a referral to treatment services?” said Sarah Ovens from the Toronto Overdose Prevention Society in a statement. “That happens everyday at OPS sites across the province.”

Following the government’s announcement, staff at the Parkdale Queen West Community Health Centre said they were looking at options, including opening the site regardless of official approval.

Monday’s release said the unsanctioned site is being opened by “Parkdale community members, people who use drugs and the Toronto Overdose Prevention Society” and “will be operated out of tents in a Parkdale park.”

Gillian Kolla from the Toronto Overdose Prevention Society says the group has no funding for the initiative. They used leftover funds from the Moss Park overdose prevention site fundraiser to purchase tents and other materials for the Parkdale location at King Street West and Roncesvalles Avenue.

“We’re really relying on community support and hoping that the community will come through in order to to support this initiative as well,” said Kolla

She added that the initiative is also in response to high levels of overdose deaths in Parkdale, citing a safety alert issued by police after seven overdose related deaths occurred over 12 days in 14 Division.

“We are in the midst of a public health crisis and we will not allow lifesaving services to be paused while Parkdale community members are dying,” said Molly Bannerman from theToronto Overdose Prevention Society.

The group is also asking Elliott to immediately allow the three paused Ontario OPS sites to open and increase funding for those currently operating.

See the full release below:

A spokesman for Toronto’s mayor said John Tory supports supervised injection sites and overdose prevention sites, but not in public parks.

“Mayor Tory has consistently stated that a public park is not a suitable place for this type of facility,” Don Peat said in an email, adding that the mayor has called on the provincial government to expedite its review so sites can be opened as planned.

“There should be no need for a site such as this in a park.”

Toronto Public Health, which operates a supervised injection site in downtown Toronto, said it had no comment on the advocacy group’s plan.

Overdose prevention sites are approved by the province and are temporary facilities set up to address an immediate need in a community, while safe injection sites are more permanent locations approved by the federal government after a more extensive application process.

Statistics Canada data shows that in the first six months of 2017, there were 1,460 opioid-related deaths in the country and that count is expected to rise as data becomes available.

—

With files from The Canadian Press

Related stories:

Ontario pauses opening three overdose-prevention sites as it conducts review

Planned overdose prevention sites put on pause

Reaction to overdose prevention strategy

Toronto’s safe injection sites: your FAQs answered