Two years after the doors to Timmins' first supervised injection site opened, the core service of the facility is ending.
As the Canadian Mental Health Association Cochrane-Timiskaming (CMHA C-T) takes over the operation of Safe Health Site Timmins, consumption treatment services will no longer be offered. The announcement was made late on June 26.
On-site counselling, referrals to health services, treatment, harm reduction, education and other supports will continue to be offered.
Safe Health Site Timmins (SHST) opened in July 2022 and was funded by the City of Timmins for its first 18 months. When that funding expired, Timmins and District Hospital stepped up to fund it.
When CMHA takes over on Monday, the hours will remain the same at 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. seven days a week.
"The SHST has consistently demonstrated its effectiveness as an evidence-based solution to connect individuals with treatment and safeguard emergency and health service capacity," reads the CMHA news release.
The CMHA says that people using the SHST should use the National Overdose Response Service (NORS) Hotline at 1-888-688- 6677. They also advise people no to use alone and always carry Naloxone.
"CMHA-CT will remain in close partnership with TADH regardless of this transition of operational responsibility. Supervised consumption services are just one, vital, part of a larger community drug strategy that includes treatment, education, prevention and enforcement. Alone, this service will not solve the opioid crisis our community faces," reads the news release.
"Together, alongside many partner agencies, we continue to advocate, operationalize and provide programs and services that aim to create a safer, well community for all. We remain optimistic that the province will move quickly to approve this evidence-based, life-saving service."
SHST is a place for people to use previously obtained drugs in the presence of trained medical staff and connect to services.
Last year, SHST received approval for a permanent facility from Health Canada, which allowed it to apply to the province for funding.
Right after receiving the federal nod, Ontario paused all new funding applications for safe consumption sites to allow for a review of the facilities after a woman was hit by a stray bullet and killed outside of a Toronto site. That review has not been completed yet.
In 2020, a funding proposal for a comprehensive treatment centre — Timmins Wellness Centre — was submitted to Ontario Health. TADH says that proposal was resubmitted in December 2023.
