Exactly three months ago Southwestern Public Health (SWPH) warned the rate of opioid-related harms has been on an upward trend in St. Thomas over the past several years.
In 2021, the rate of opioid-related St. Thomas Elgin General Hospital emergency department visits was 126.1 per 100,000 population as compared to 114.0 per 100,000 province-wide.
That same year, the rate of opioid-related hospitalizations in St. Thomas was 72.4 per 100,000 population, far above the provincial average of 16.3 per 100,000.
Those alarming numbers prompted the health unit to undertake a study into the feasibility of drug treatment and consumption services in the region.
This study (undertaken between January and March of this year) defines feasibility as a combination of community support, political buy-in, and the likelihood of people with lived or living experience of substance use (PWLE) using these services in the health unit’s region.
Data collection involved several methods including:
• Semi-structured interviews with people with lived or living experience using substances (PWLE);
• Focus groups with community partners;
• Semi-structured interviews with municipal partners; and
• Community member survey.
At the March 13 council meeting, members discussed a health unit report seeking input for that study.
Well, at this week’s SWPH board meeting (June 22), members unanimously supported the recommendations of that study (listed below) to determine the feasibility of locating one or more safe consumption sites in the region.
In an interview with medical officer of health Dr. Ninh Tran in February of this year, he cautioned the region is closing in on an opioid-related death every week.
“In 2019, we had 17 deaths and in 2022, we had 44 deaths. And that is getting close to a death a week and these are preventable deaths.”
He added the significant increase in opioid-related deaths in the SWPH region in the past couple of years is due, in great part, to “a toxic supply.”
While St. Thomas Mayor Joe Preston supports the health unit further exploring consumption and treatment centres he has, in the past, indicated he is wary of a safe consumption site in the city.
Preston is the SWPH board chairman and at a city council meeting back in March, he leaned toward rehab and detox facilities.
“Many in the community would say this is great, but just not in my backyard. NIMBYism will raise its ugly head in this.”
Preston observed, “We’ve been working exceptionally hard over the last three years or four years on rehab and detox, an actual cure for addiction.
“And we now have three beds open in St. Thomas, something we’ve worked really hard on, we wanted more.
“I’m not sure I want to get to let’s try a new solution before we’ve actually had the old solution in place for more than a couple of days.”
He wants to see the results of efforts already underway in the city, including the impact of two housing projects undertaken in partnership with Indwell which include addiction services on site.
The Indwell units in the Queen Street housing project are due to open shortly and so any conclusive evidence of impact on those residents is some distance down the road.
“I would like us to work with Addictions Ontario and Canadian Mental Health on that one,” stressed Preston, “to ensure we’ve seen whether there are results from detox, rehab and crisis mental health beds to go along with what might happen in a consumption site.”
He added, “Mine still continues to be to offer a solution that is a cure rather than offer a solution that is not.
“And ensuring that if we’re offering safe consumption sites that they involve nursing staff on site that is related to rehab and detox as a curative nature.”
The study launched in January indicated support for consumption and treatment services from municipal partners. However one of those partners who was not identified warned, “Many in the community would say this is great, but just not in my backyard.
“NIMBYism will raise its ugly head in this.”
According to the study, there are four possible locations for such a centre in the city as suggested by persons with lived experience with substance use.
Two downtown locations would be near the city’s emergency shelter, The Inn and in the area of Talbot and Elgin streets.
A possible northeast location would be at Burwell and South Edgeware roads, with a southeast location near the Elgin Centre.
Diving into some of the other study findings, the perceived need by community members for consumption and treatment services was lowest in Elgin (53.7 per cent) and St. Thomas (55.2 per cent) and highest in Oxford County (64.6 per cent).
The top three reasons why such a centre would be helpful are fewer used needles in public spaces, less risk of injury or death from overdose and less public drug use in places like streets or parks.
As for concerns about a local consumption and treatment centre, the top three reasons given were the impact on local businesses or the economy, more people loitering in public spaces near a site and a decrease in property value.
In the study, Preston concedes, “This is a very complex issue that requires solutions that consider many aspects of support – prevention and treatment, rehabilitation and housing as well.”
The study indicates support for these services locally from people with lived experience of substance use, municipal partners and most of the community members who participated.
Recommendations and next steps include:
- SWPH to consult with local partners on the feasibility and application process requirements of the organizations considering operating a CTS (consumption and treatment services) service in the region;
- SWPH to support discussions using local data and study findings to consider potential locations that could host CTS; this potential location must meet the requirements for federal approval and Provincial funding;
- Pending the outcome of the consultation process, SWPH to obtain letters of support from the respective cities and host locations;
- SWPH to conduct further education, consultation and data collection with the general community, business owners/operators, Indigenous community partners, municipalities and other partners on the purpose and expected impacts of CTS;
- SWPH supports providers interested in operating a CTS to complete the Federal Exemption Application and the Provincial Funding Application.
The full report can be accessed here.
MEANTIME, GREAT WORK IS ALREADY BEING DONE . . .
The Annex, the addictions resource centre and outreach program of the Grace Café, is dedicated to helping individuals access addiction services and programs and supports those struggling with addictions.
The centre celebrated its first anniversary with an open house last Saturday (June 17).
Director Don Trepanier advised they have already had to hire additional staff.
“When we put the business plan together, we based it on a budget of having myself as director and two staff.
“As we opened our doors and started to get flooded, we realized yeah, we were very much understaffed, so we bumped our staffing complement to four, now.”
The goal of The Annex is to positively impact the lives of individuals facing the many challenges of substance dependency.
“Getting into recovery is really the ultimate success story and we’ve seen lots of that.”
It does this through addiction support groups, substance abuse resources and addiction counselling.
Trepanier outlined the direction of the centre over the past year.
“Right now, we’ve been focussing on who is on the streets. We are focussing on those who are visibly in need, working with The Inn, working with Ontario Works and working with Indwell and the YWCA and anybody else.”
The Annex also assists in facilitating access to secondary needs such as medical, dental, and mental wellness services, legal and financial assistance, and housing.
Their doors are open to anyone who has addiction issues or suspects their drug or alcohol use has reached a problematic level.
Trepanier described what lies ahead with The Annex 2.0.
“Now we’re going to be focussing our attention on those who are living with jobs and families and houses in the community who are starting to, maybe, get into trouble with substance use.
“And so maybe they don’t know who to go to, who to turn to. And so we’re hoping to make a connection with them.
“And, I believe strongly that there’s a whole lot of people, in fact, a lot more people who are struggling with substances.
“Whether it’s maybe drinking too much, or hitting some pills too much or buying cannabis too much, but one way or another, they may not know exactly that they have an issue and that the issue is impacting their family, their job, their health and their mental health.”
“We’re not just dealing with addiction, we’re dealing with multiple other issues.”
Trepanier adds at The Annex, staff believe all people deserve respect, support, and access to care and treatment.
Over the course of their first year, Trepanier stressed there have been critical success stories.
“Getting into recovery is really the ultimate success story and we’ve seen lots of that.
“Now, it takes many, many steps to get there and it’s fraught with issues, especially with the most severe population who are homeless, who are also dealing with multiple other harms in their lives.
“We’re not just dealing with addiction, we’re dealing with multiple other issues.”
You can access the addictions resource centre at 519-896-0080, email don@thegracecafe.ca, or drop in at 321 Talbot Street between 8:30 a.m. and noon, Monday through Wednesday and Friday. The Annex is open all day Thursday.
Trepanier hinted it is only a matter of time before they extend the hours of operation.
“I think at some point, we’re probably going to have to be now open 40 hours a week.”
At The Annex, they accept and welcome referrals, walk-ins or individuals seeking remote or virtual consultation.
Related post:
QUESTIONS ABOUT THAT LANEWAY QUESTIONNAIRE
What role did city staff play in the withdrawal of a proposal to convert a downtown laneway into a creative space?
Plenty, asserts C.J. Allen (seen in the photo with performer Dani Doucette) who approached city council last month seeking permission to close the laneway that connects the city hall parking lot to St. Catharine Street.
The closure would be in effect from May 19 through to Sept. 9 and allow for the creation of a cultural space during the summer months that could include an outdoor patio or bistro with live music and other cultural activities and programming to be determined.
At the June 5th meeting of council, members were not in favour of approving the closure of the lane based on city staff concerns but left the door open to consider Plan B from Allen.
That called for closing the lane on Fridays from noon to 11 p.m. and Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 11 p.m.
Coun. Steve Peters requested a report from council on the parking situation in the lane which is used by Talbot Street businesses and tenants in the second-floor apartment units.
“St. Thomas city hall staff clearly have a disinterest in arts and culture and the growth of it in the city.”
We have since learned a one-question letter was distributed to area businesses asking if they would support the lane closure.
Curious, because that was not the concern of Peters and the rest of council.
We have since been in contact with Allen whose Good Vibes Community Association (GVCA) hosted last September’s Summer Harvest Festival in Pinafore Park.
He confirmed the laneway proposal has been withdrawn and offered insight into what was behind that decision.
“St. Thomas city hall staff clearly have a disinterest in arts and culture and the growth of it in the city,” responded a bitter Allen.
He continued, “The laneway questionnaire sent to businesses and residents fronting the lane connecting city hall and St. Catharine Street asked a question about two dates, Fridays and Saturdays.
“In addition to a questionnaire being sent to businesses and residents, it strikes me that the question itself is not the question that was posed by members of city council.”
“From noon until 11 p.m. on Fridays and 10 a.m. to 11 p.m. on Saturdays.
“City council didn’t ask staff to go and create a questionnaire to poll businesses and residents. They asked staff to look at the concerns regarding parking for the businesses in the laneway.
“Now we have this questionnaire and it strikes me as city staff dragging their feet on another project in the downtown core.”
Staff asked that the questionnaire be returned by June 21.
Allen continued, “In addition to a questionnaire being sent to businesses and residents, it strikes me that the question itself is not the question that was posed by members of city council.
“Also, I don’t know how the staff at city hall expects any business or to take the time to do a questionnaire and then return a copy of a paper questionnaire to an email address.
“So, a resident will do this and take the time to scan it and then email it. That is asking a lot.
“This is another example of city bureaucracy refusing to engage on the subject of arts and culture knowing, as our community grows, arts and culture are going to become more important, more prevalent and the thing that binds the community together.”
As a result, Allen suggests the GVCA is no longer “interested in doing business with the city.”
It’s not the first run-in Allen has had with city hall.
In a deputation to city council on Jan. 16 of this year, Allen zeroed in on “bureaucratic and redundant red tape and restrictive bylaws.”
You can read about that here.
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