An opening date has finally been set for London's long awaited permanent supervised drug consumption and treatment facility.
Regional HIV/AIDS Connection (RHAC), the Middlesex London Health Unit, and the London Intercommunity Health Centre have announced Carepoint will officially begin serving clients at its permanent site at 446 York St. the week of February 27.
“The project to renovate the space at 446 York Street and create a permanent supervised consumption and treatment site comes at a critical time for our community,” said Dr. Alex Summers, the region's medical officer of health. “The consumption and treatment model that has been the backbone of Carepoint has a proven history of saving lives and linking people to the supports they need.”
Work to retrofit the old musical instrument store has been underway since last May. The Ontario government kicked in nearly $1.8 million in capital funding for the $2.2 million project.
“We have been very eager for the construction work to be completed so we can provide this vital life-saving service in a well-designed and welcoming space as we continue to respond to London’s opioid /overdose crisis” Sonja Burke, RHAC's director of harm reduction services, said in a statement.
Trailers at 446 York Street service as a temporary site for London's supervised drug consumption facility.
The supervised drug-use program, aimed at reducing the number of fatal overdoses in the city, has been operating out of a trailer at the York Street site since it was moved from its temporary location at 186 King St. last June. The permanent site will allow for six people at a time to use their narcotics under the supervision of health care professionals. There will also be dedicated space for aftercare and wrap-around services such as additional treatment and counselling.
Carepoint is open from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. seven days a week, including on statutory holidays. Demand for its services has remained steady throughout the COVID-19 pandemic.
Health officials in London have been working to open a permanent site in the city since March 2018, when a formal application for the facility was submitted to Health Canada.
