Doors were closed indefinitely at a proposed safe intake and treatment (CTS) site in Barrie to help address the opioid crisis.
In a Monday press release, the Simcoe County branch of the Canadian Mental Health Association (CMHA CBS) announced that it has to withdraw its application for the 11 Innisfil St. site. after years of waiting for approval from the Ontario government to move forward.
The city of Barrie hopes to open a drinking site at 11 Innisfil Street (80 Bradford Street). (CTV News Barrie)
“Since the fall of 2021, we have made significant investments in this as it is a critical service to the community,” Dr. Kelly said in the statement. Valerie Grdisa, executive director of CMHA of Simcoe County. More lives have been lost and continue to be lost in Barrie and Simcoe counties due to the opioid crisis.
While we perceive those decisions to require careful consideration, we are not comfortable paying unresponsive rent when we may only have that budget to meet other community desires.
The STC application was first submitted in 2021 to Health Canada and the Ontario Ministry of Health. Federal approval was granted the following year, but the province suspended its green light for all programs following a fatal shooting outside an intake and processing site. in Toronto.
In a statement to CTV News in March, the Ministry of Health said that the programs at all 17 provincial CTS sites remain under review and that the programs will remain on pause during the review process.
Activists gathered outside Queen’s Park to urge Ford’s government to finalize its review process, calling the pause irresponsible.
Safe intake advocates gather at Queen’s Park in Toronto, Ontario, Tuesday, May 28, 2024 (CTV News).
According to experts, there were suspected drug-related deaths in Simcoe Muskoka last month alone.
“In 2023, tragically, another 53 people lost their lives in Barrie as a result of suspected opioid-related poisonings. So far in 2024 (as of June 11, 2024), another 26 people have lost their lives to a death allegedly related to drugs. in Barrie and its immediate surroundings,” he said.
Proponents say safe intake and treatment sites play a huge role in preventing serious harm to drug users and helping to increase drug use.
“They also serve the entire network through law enforcement and protection by reducing the presence of discarded drug paraphernalia and drug use in public,” said Dr. Kelly. Lisa Simon, associate medical director of health at the Simcoe Muskoka District Health Unit (SMDHU).
Despite this setback, the fitness unit and CMHA SCB said they will remain actively involved in addressing the opioid crisis by expanding access to medical treatment for addiction, raising public awareness and collaborating with others who use drugs.
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