City still pushing for funding after province freezes overdose prevention site cash

Uncertainty is swirling around the future of overdose prevention sites in Hamilton and across Ontario, as the province has announced it is "pausing" any funding approvals for new locations.

The city currently houses a single site where drug users can inject under the watch of medical professionals. Proponents say one location isn't enough to come close to meeting the needs of a city with an overdose rate that is 72 per cent higher than the rest of Ontario.

Now, the city won't be able to apply for funding for any additionaltemporary injection sites and it's unclear what will happen to the existing site in November, when its funding runs out.

"I was extremely disappointed to see this," said Robin Lennox, the Shelter Health Network's lead for the city's overdose prevention site. "The idea that one overdose prevention site in Hamilton is solving the problem is just not the case."

We hope that [the PCs]look at the evidence and see these do prevent deaths.-Michelle Baird, director of epidemiology, wellness and communicable disease control

In its brief time in power, the PC governmenthasalready rolled back several initiatives from the previous Liberal government. Doctors involved with harm reduction in Hamilton are hoping that overdose prevention sites won't be the next service primed for the chopping block.

"It would be a complete step backwards. It would be a huge disservice to the community," Lennox said.

"It would cost lives."

Placing plans on pause

Hamilton has been pushing for both supervised consumption sites (SCS) and overdose prevention sites (OPS) for months. The two are similar, but slightly different.

Supervised consumption sites also sometimes known as safe consumption or injection sites are permanent sites that are approved by the federal government.

Overdose prevention sites, by contrast, are moretemporary, and allow for quicker timelines in getting lifesaving services off the ground. They also have fewer resources. The federal government is allowing provinces to approve these sites in the wakeof an opioid crisis that is killing people at unprecedented levels nationwide.

Capital and operating funding for both types of locations come through the provincial government.

Or at least it did, until last week. In a letter to local health integration networks and health units across the province late Friday, the Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care announced it would not approve any new overdose prevention sites, effective immediately.

"The ministry is pausing the approval of any overdose prevention sites that are yet to open to the public," said Roselle Martino, the assistant deputy minister of the province's population and public health division, in an email.

Premier has said he is 'dead against' injection sites

It does not appear plans for supervised consumption sites are included, although the letter does note Health Minister Christine Elliott will be "reviewing the evidence and speaking to experts to ensure that any continuation of supervised consumption services and overdose prevention sites are going to introduce people into rehabilitation and ensure people struggling with addiction will get the help they need."

The province could, ultimately, choose to cut funding for these locations, the city says. Even though legal authority rests at the federal level, the province could pull out.

That the PCs are moving in this directionis not surprising. As far back as the spring election campaign, Premier Doug Ford said he was "dead against" supervised injection sites, though his party has said since that Ford is committed to reviewing evidence on the issue.

Ontario's health minister announced Monday that the province will hold off on opening three new overdose prevention sites in Thunder Bay, St. Catharines and Toronto, as the province conducts a review of harm reduction practices and determines if the sites "have merit."

The province also extended funding for an overdose prevention site in London last week which was set to close on Aug. 15.

City says overdose prevention sites are needed

Michelle Baird, director of epidemiology, wellness and communicable disease control for the city, told CBC News that overdose prevention sites are vital forHamilton.

"We hope that [the PCs]look at the evidence and see these do prevent deaths," she said.

In June, there were 112 client visits to Hamilton's OPS. Four overdoses were reversed there, and no ambulance was needed which is welcome news in a city that often does not have enough ambulances to go around.

There were over 200 client visits to Hamilton's OPS in July, Baird said, though she did not yet have figures on how many overdoses were reversed there last month.

It's unclear if the city will be able to renew funding for its soleOPSthis November, or what the status is on its applications for a permanent location in Hamilton. The province did not immediately answer questions about either Monday afternoon.

Lennox said she hopes the province will reconsider and continue funding these initiatives.

"If we're unable to expand, we'll always be under serving the population that needs this."

adam.carter@cbc.ca