Windsor's drug consumption site, Safepoint, is on track to open as soon as March

After years of planning and discussion, the Windsor-Essex County Health Unit is "feverishly" working behind the scenes to get the city's first ever consumption and treatment services site across the finish line so that it can open in the next few months.

In the first of three virtual town halls this week from the Windsor-Essex County Health Unit (WECHU), staff said the site, called Safepoint, could open as soon as the end of March. The federal and provincial governments still have to approve the siteat 101 Wyandotte St. E.

"The development of this site is many, many years in the works. We've been working feverishly behind the scenes to lay this thing out in a way that is safe, accessible and client friendly," said WECHU'sdirector of public health programs Eric Nadalin.

A consumption and treatment services site is a location where people can use drugs, learn ways to reduce the harms of substance use or use more safely, and also access to social supports such ashousing and medical care.

Health Canada will inspect the site, whichis currently being renovated,Nadalinsaid.

The provincial process to get a site is "known to take some time,"he said. In the meantime, WECHUhopes thefederal government will approve it to run an urgent public health need site.

Meanwhile, WECHU says,the opioid crisis in Windsor-Essex is getting worse, with 86 people dying from an overdosein 2021. That's the highest recorded number to date

Consumption and treatment sites decreases hospital admissions and emergency room use for overdoses, said Dr. Robert McKay, an addictions doctor, during Tuesday's meeting.

Safety, security a top concern for community

This first town hallwas for business owners, who submittedquestions via email to thepanel of WECHUstaffand community partners.

Previous consultationsrevealed people were concerned aboutsafety, security and increasedcrime.

WECHUsays it'll do the following:

• Security guard when the site is open.
• 24-hour cameras.
• Trainstaff on safety and security.
• Partner with Windsor Police Service.
• Have security plan/policy and floor plan in place, as well as a client code of conduct.

Some asked about increasedtheft and loitering.

"It's very much our goal to be a good neighbour in that area," said Nadalin. The team will track and monitor crime data when the site opens, he said.

The health unit has hosted similar town halls, but Nadalin said this week's meetings are part of the"pre-opening phase."

He said WECHU will keep consultingwith the community even after Safepointopens.

WECHU has been working on the plan for a site since2017, said Nadalin. It started consulting people in 2019.

Windsor's city council approved the site last May, and WECHU applied to the province and feds in the summer.

WECHU will hold avirtual town hall for residents at 12 p.m. Wednesday.