In April, the Canadian Mental Health Association (CMHA) of Cochrane-Timiskaming presented a transitional investment for Safe Health to remain open until June 30.
The organization claims to have received the additional investment requested from the provincial government.
It will remain open and offer other types of overdose prevention services, such as blank equipment distribution, counseling and withdrawal management.
“We know that 90 percent of consumers access the site for medical services. I’m still confident that the referral will be made and that other people will be able to access the number one care,” said Timmins Mayor Michelle Boileau.
Several representatives say that the end of the supervised admission service will have negative repercussions for the region.
Boileau highlighted the knowledge “that shows that we are saving lives with this service. “
“This concept that other people will continue to use, but will no longer have the opportunity to do so in a medically supervised position, is concerning,” he said.
Seamus Murphy, deputy lead paramedics for the Cochrane District, said there has never been a fatal overdose at the supervised intake site and this has allowed about 40 citizens to access long-term care for addiction management.
In particular, the government expects an increase in calls to emergency services to request an overdose reaction, which decreased by 20% after the opening of supervised admission.
“We’re likely going to see an increase in deaths in our community. We also expect an increase in the use of emergency services,” said Paul Jalbert, executive director of CMHA Cochrane-Timiskaming.
Jalbert said the increased demand for emergency facilities will have an effect on frontline professionals in the region.
“It’s hard to witness other people who are suffering so much without feeling the consequences,” he said.
Ontario’s 2024 report made no mention of supervised intake sites in Northern Ontario.
Radio-Canada asked the office of the Minister of Health whether it planned to cover the prices for the supervised admission service or propose any other solution. The office responded by clarifying that the Sudbury and Timmins sites were never approved or funded through the province.
With de Bienvenu Senga and Isaac Adams
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