With around 2,000 people using its facility since its inception, London's temporary overdose prevention facility is reporting positive results in a new business case that advocates for permanent supervised consumption services.
According to the business case, nearly 10 per cent of those who utilized London’s temporary overdose prevention site at 186 King St. were referred to rehabilitation services. In the first 150 days of operation alone, 150 people were successfully connected to addictions treatment.
The facility has had more than 7,000 visits by 2,000 unique clients since it opened in February 2018, and there has been a total of 31 overdoses. Many of the overdose incidents were fentanyl-related, however, there were no deaths.
"In the seven months since the temporary overdose prevention site opened, we’ve seen tremendous successes," said Dr. Christopher Mackie, medical officer of health and CEO with the Middlesex-London Health Unit. "We’re already seeing positive dividends for our community and we know the impact of the permanent facilities will be even greater."
The business case details how data gathered from London's temporary overdose prevention site is consistent with the research gathered from supervised consumption facilities around the world.
According to research in the report, in the absence of a safe place to inject drugs, people turn to public spaces, and a supervised consumption site would help to improve London's neighbourhood and business areas that a reporting public drug use. The report also shows a reduction in new HIV diagnoses in London, despite an increase in testing, as well as a reduction in Endocarditis diagnoses, an infection of the lining of the heart which is associated with injection drug use.
The business case also includes letters from the London Chamber of Commerce and the Downtown London Business Improvement Area, which both indicated support for supervised consumption services.
As a result of the facility's successes, it has also been named as a finalist for the 2018 Pillar Community Innovation Awards in the Community Collaboration category.
The health unit has submitted applications for two permanent supervised consumption sites, as well as for one mobile site. The business case for the proposed services will be presented to the Middlesex-London Board of Health at its next meeting on Thursday.
