With the end date for London's temporary overdose prevention site drawing near, the area's medical officer of health is looking for an extension to keep the facility up and running.
On Thursday, Dr. Chris Mackie will ask the Middlesex London Health Unit's board to move forward with a request to the Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care to extend approval of the site for another six months.
The funding and temporary exemption for the overdose prevention facility, located at 186 King St., is slated to expire on August 15. That deadline was set when the former Ontario government granted the health unit approval and $130,700 in one-time funding for the site in January.
The temporary facility opened its doors in February. Since then, there have been more than 4,000 client visits, several overdose reversals, and 91 client referrals to other services including addictions treatment, mental health counselling, and housing, according to a report going to the board. The site, on average, sees 55 visits per weekday and 30 visits a day on weekends. The most common drug being consumed at the site is hydromorphone, followed by crystal methamphetamine.
"There have been no overdose deaths in or around the site," the report says.
Mackie is also asking the board chair to write a letter to Ontario Minister of Health and Long-Term Care Christine Elliott inviting her to tour London's temporary overdose prevention site.
"As an example of what can be achieved in harm reduction with effective leadership, careful collaboration, responsiveness to client feedback, and strong community input, it is an ideal facility for Ontario’s new Minister of Health and Long-Term Care to tour in order to better understand what this sort of service can be," the report reads.
The extension request comes as the health unit awaits Health Canada approval for two permanent supervised drug-consumption sites. The two proposed locations are at 241 Simcoe St., a building owned by the London and Middlesex Housing Corporation, and 446 York St., which is across from Mission Services of London.
As an alternative to provincial approval of an extension, the health unit has also asked Health Canada to allow the temporary site to serve as an interim location for one of the permanent facilities while the permanent site is being prepared. Health Canada is considering the request.