Director with Positive Living Niagara says injection sites also offer councilling, other supports
Clarification from Postive Living Niagara, that runs the drug injection site in St. Catharines, of what the site offers to those struggling with addiction.
Following news the province plans to close it this summer, Director Talia Storm tells us they are not a HART hub, but offer similar services.
It's not about people taking drugs and leaving needles around. "It is far more than just consuming in the space, people bring their pre-obtained drugs and they consume in the space, and we're lucky to be able to intervene if there is a medical emergency. But, there's also access to social support, health care support and housing support, and councilling."
The government wants people to use the Homelessness and Addiction Recovery Treatment centres.
"So while HART hubs will meet the need of some members of our community, when I think of the folks who are actively using the consumption sites, sometimes they're not quite there. So, people are still using in community, and to be using in public or secluded places really increases the risk."
She says people are finding fewer needles in neighbourhoods because of the site, while the premier says he's been told the opposite.
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