Bid for Hamilton’s second safe consumption site gets wide support

Hamilton's board of health unanimously put its full support behind a bid for a second safe consumption site as opioid overdoses and deaths continue to increase at what one councillor called an alarming and unacceptable rate."

The AIDS Network is in the process of applying to the Ministry of Health for a consumption and treatment services (CTS) location at 746 Barton St. E.

There is an urgent need," executive director Tim McClemont told the board Monday.

Hamilton's first site at 71 Rebecca St. was approved in March 2019 and is run by Hamilton Urban Core Community Health Centre. It's expected to temporarily move in December to 70 James St. S before relocating permanently to 430 Cannon St. E. in September 2023.

The city has pursued a second site for more than two and a half years, but public health couldn't find a location, leaving it to the AIDS Network to finally fill the gap.

It was totally disheartening and totally unacceptable that none of our private partners for space were willing to come forward," said Coun. Nrinder Nann. If it was up to me we would have them integrated into all the pharmacies and remove the stigma."

Nann described the number of deaths in Hamilton from opioids as staggering."

Unsafe supply is leading to death at a total alarming and unacceptable rate in our community," she said.

Grim statistics were provided to the board Monday by public health on the sharp rise in drug related emergency department visits, hospital admissions, overdoses, and deaths in the past five years with the trend mostly attributed to opioid related poisoning and fentanyl:

• Monthly overdose calls to Hamilton Paramedic Services has steadily increased to 594 in the first eight months of 2021 compared to 565 for all of 2020.

• Hamilton's rate of opioid-related emergency department visits was 38 per cent higher than the province in 2020. In the first three months of 2021 alone, there were 228 opioid-related emergency department visits.

• Of confirmed opioid-related deaths in Hamilton from January 2020 to March 2021, 96 per cent were accidental, found preliminary data from the Office of the Chief Coroner. Deaths were primarily among those age 25 to 44 years, followed by those age 45 to 64. Fentanyl was the most common type of opioid contributing to accidental overdose deaths while 79 per cent overall were street drugs.

• Hamilton had Ontario's fifth highest opioid-related death rate in 2020 at 29 per cent above the provincial rate.

• Opioid overdoses are concentrated in the lower central areas in wards 2 and 3, which account for more than two-thirds of paramedic calls.

Despite the opioid crisis, the budget for the Alcohol, Drug and Gambling Services and Community Mental Health Promotion Program isn't increasing.

It's not unique to this year that this particular program area with these funding sources don't necessarily see increases," said Michelle Baird, director of the epidemiology, wellness and communicable disease control division at public health. We are continuing to try to maintain the services we have with the budget that doesn't change."

Coun. Maureen Wilson expressed dismay as the board approved the program's budget Monday, which is primarily funded by various provincial sources.

We have ... reports on our agenda today that cry out about the importance of prevention and that Hamilton is above average in terms of our opioid use," said Wilson. Yet, year after year, we're not seeing a commensurate reflection of that crisis in our child community and social service allotment or our health promotion allotment from the government of Ontario, which I find really perplexing."

The board heard that the stagnant funding has resulted in waiting lists of just under one year for intensive mental-health care.

One to one ongoing counselling for alcohol, drugs and gambling issues is booking into the beginning of January.

The crisis - acts of despair - are growing," said Wilson. But we have these challenges of access that are not growing, unfortunately, to meet them."

The AIDS Network says it has 20 letters and counting from major community and health organizations supporting its CTS bid.

I think it's absolutely necessary," said Mayor Fred Eisenberger. We can't have enough of it to waylay the crisis that we continue to see."

Joanna Frketich is a Hamilton-based reporter covering health for The Spectator. Reach her via email: jfrketich@thespec.com