London's temporary overdose prevention site has been given another lease on life by the provincial government.
Dr. Chris Mackie, the Middlesex-London medical officer of health, confirmed to BlackburnNews.com Friday evening that the Ontario Progressive Conservative government has agreed to extend the permit for the site until October 30.
The decision came just days before funding for the site was set to expire.
The fate of the site still remains uncertain, however, with Ministry of Health still reviewing data on the merits of overdose prevention sites and supervised consumption services within the province.
The minister of health and deputy premier, Christine Elliott, issued a statement on Friday and said the province is seeking an extension of Ontario's Class Exemption under the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act (CDSA) while the ministry concludes its review.
"We continue to take the ongoing opioid crisis very seriously. I have reviewed the latest data, evidence and current site models, visited various sites and held consultations. I am now in the process of finalizing my recommendations," said Elliott in the statement. "This is an important determination that we need to get right, and one that must not be rushed."
The temporary overdose prevention site at 186 King St., which is the only one of its kind in the province, received provincial funding and permission to operate from the former Wynne government in January. According to the local health unit, the facility has had more than 7,000 visits by 2,000 unique clients since it opened in February 2018. There has also been a total of 31 overdoses since the facility opened, however, there have been no deaths.
Dr. Mackie said he is fairly happy the government has decided to extend the facility's funding, however, planning for the site on a month to month basis is difficult.
"It's better than having to close down, but it's hard... with the level of uncertainty," he said.
The medical officer of health added that the province is basically playing "a waiting game with lives in the balance."
"Our government's overriding priority is to ensure that all efforts to combat opioid addiction are designed to introduce people into rehabilitation and that those struggling with addiction get the help they need," Elliott said in her statement. "That's why our government has committed to investing $3.8 billion in mental health, addictions and housing supports over 10 years."
The Middlesex-London Health Unit has submitted applications and is awaiting a response from the federal government for two permanent supervised consumption sites, as well as for one mobile site.
