Future of Sudbury’s safe consumption site still uncertain, but new stats show it's needed

Those working to help improve the drug crisis say programs like the safe consumption sites are working, but that work will be paused as the province reviews its 17 sites across the province.

Some sites have found funding extensions, but time is ticking down on how much longer they will be able to help clients.

Sudbury's safe consumption site called ‘The Spot’ was located in a trailer on Energy Court. Pictured here on Jan. 16/24. (Angela Gemmill/CTV News Northern Ontario)

At the unassuming trailer on Energy Court in Greater Sudbury, the outside doesn’t look like much, but according to staff, it has become a trusted source for the drug-using community.

The safe consumption site called ‘The Spot’ is in jeopardy of closing at the end of this month.

“We know that this crisis is not slowing down, and we know that the toxic drugs are only getting more toxic and the overdoses are only getting more complex and more challenging to reverse,” said Amber Fritz, the manager of supervised consumption services with Réseau Access Network.

“People are literally being poisoned and that’s why we need places like this. It’s not just about reversing those opioid poisoning or those drug poisonings. This is a place of safety, this is a place of community,” she added.

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Funding applications were halted by the province last fall so it could review all 17 sites across Ontario.

Fritz said she remains hopeful other funding proposals will come through – but people are still being affected.

Recent preliminary stats shared with CTV News show between January and August 2023 there were 54 opioid-related deaths compared to 63 during the same timeframe in 2022. (CTV News Northern Ontario Graphic)Recent preliminary stats from the Community Drug Strategy in Sudbury show between January and August 2023 there were 54 opioid-related deaths compared to 63 during the same timeframe in 2022.

There were also 370 emergency room visits for confirmed opioid overdoses last year, compared to 472 the year before.

“It is decreased from last year for the same time periods, but when we see it rounded over for the whole year -- once we have all the numbers for the entire year 2023, we’ve been seeing consistency,” said Caroline Lavoie, a member of the Community Drug Strategy who is also a public health nurse with Public Health Sudbury and Districts.

“So there is that slight decrease but it’s still three times higher than it was before the pandemic.”

Recent preliminary stats shared with CTV News show between January and August 2023 there were 370 emergency room visits for confirmed opioid overdoses compared to 472 during the same timeframe in 2022. (CTV News Northern Ontario Graphic)Lavoie told CTV News that she does believe services like the safe consumption sites are helping, even if the numbers don’t reflect that.

“I do see the people behind those numbers,” Fritz said.

“I do see the humanity behind those numbers. These are individuals with beautiful, unique, complex lives and we have the incredible privilege of interacting with those folks every single day.”

Fritz said Réseau Access Network is exploring every available avenue for funding to keep the safe consumption site open until the provincial review is complete because it will mean more lives could be saved with their help.

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According to Lavoie, a report is going to Sudbury city council at the end of this month to determine what next steps should to be taken as a community to support those impacted by the toxic drug crisis.