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LETTER: Number of overdose deaths has grown from 'alarming' to 'unacceptable'

'A healthy community does not see some of its members as disposable,' says Barrie resident
28-05-2021 Innisfil11,411
The address at 11 Innisfil St., in Barrie, has been proposed as a supervised consumption site (SCS).

BarrieToday welcomes letters to the editor at [email protected]. Please include your daytime phone number and address (for verification of authorship, not publication). The following letter is from Engage Barrie member Victoria Scott in response to 'LETTER: Money would be better spent on drug rehab centre versus SCS,' published on Feb. 12. Applications are currently before the provincial and federal governments for approval regarding a supervised consumption site (SCS) in Barrie at 11 Innisfil St.  
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The opioid crisis and toxic drug supply in Barrie continues to cause an alarming number of deaths in our community. We have, within our reach, an effective evidence based solution to this serious crisis at 11 Innisfil St.

Healthy communities are proactive not reactive. We cannot allow inaccurate information about supervised consumption sites (aka Consumption and Treatment Services, or CTS) to delay our application. A healthy community does not see some of its members as disposable.

For over two years, the SCS advisory committee, of which I was a member, underwent a comprehensive and transparent search for a suitable location within the boundaries where the highest demand for emergency services, including deaths continue to occur.

The committee was made up of various community services and stakeholders including some members who actually preferred that the CTS be outside the geographical boundaries identified in its term of references. Discussions were fulsome and informative. Everyone at the table was given an equal voice.

Over the two years the committee met, two online surveys, mail-outs to areas around the proposed sites and a virtual community consultation took place to provide community members opportunities to express their concerns and possible mitigation strategies.

On a regular basis during this time, Barrie print media, online news, television and radio and social media reported either directly or indirectly on the committee’s work and progress. This coverage often provided links to access summaries of the meeting’s minutes in the Simcoe Muskoka District Health Unit website.

The number of deaths were alarming pre-pandemic. Now, these numbers are unacceptable. The local reporting on this issue in all levels has increased over the course of the pandemic, including updates on the committee’s work. In other words, there was ample opportunity for public discourse.

It would have been impossible for a site to be chosen that would have been seen as perfect by everyone. However, in CTS currently operating in communities similar to ours in Ontario, good relationships have been forged between the site and its surrounding businesses and residents. Issues are quickly responded to and collaboration for developing mitigation strategies has been for the most part, positive.

During my time on the site selection committee, I spoke with executive directors of BIAs in Guelph, Kitchener, St. Catharines and London. They believe that a healthy vibrant economically robust community includes their Consumption Treatment Services. None of the BIAs I spoke to said there was a negative effect on surrounding development.

None of the developers saw fit to “rejig” their plans because of a nearby CTS.

Many of the residents and businesses are unaware that a CTS is even operating in their area; unaware that this service is busy saving lives and connecting its users to essential supports. Safety concerns for businesses and residents in these communities often identify the local bars as being more problematic than their CTS.

Attempting to delay a CTS in our community will result in an increase in the sounds of sirens, more pressure on law enforcement and emergency services, more visible detritus of drug consumption and most importantly, more deaths. Delaying this life-saving strategy will result in more of what we don’t want as a community.

In any given year, one in five Canadians experience a mental illness or addiction problem. Look around. It’s someone you know. If we delay this life-saving service, we will be treating that someone as disposable.

The Canadian Mental Health Association (CMHA) Simcoe County branch will be working hard over the coming months to meet and collaborate with local residents and businesses to hear their concerns and develop mitigation strategies as we wait for approval for this essential service.

No more delays. Support our CTS at 11 Innisfil St., and raise the value of everyone in our community.

Victoria Scott
Barrie

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