We strongly support the opening of a second Consumption Treatment Service Site at 746 Barton St. E in Hamilton Ward 3.

What is a CTS and what are the benefits of a CTS?

A CTS is a safe, hygienic environment where people can use drugs under the supervision of trained staff. We support CTS because this service saves lives, prevents injury through trained response to overdoses, reduces the demand for EMS and police responses in the community, can help reduce the transmission of HIV, Hepatitis C and other infections and provides people a safe, clean, and comfortable space to use drugs, reducing public drug use and providing space to connect with other programs and services leading to healthier communities.

Why does Hamilton need two CTS sites?

We strongly support a second CTS in Hamilton Ward 3 based on data provided by the City of Hamilton, the City of Hamilton’s Public Health Services and the AIDS Network.  The City of Hamilton is large enough that a single site cannot support the needs of the community. For reference, The City of Ottawa is just under twice the size of Hamilton in terms of population, and currently is supported by four active CTS sites. The City of Hamilton has already determined that we need at least two sites (2017 City of Hamilton Needs Assessment and Feasibility Study). In 2020, Hamilton continued to have a higher opioid-related death rate than the provincial rate (21.1 per 100,000 vs. 16.4 per 100,000).  This was Hamilton’s highest annual rate to date.  In 2020, 125 opioid related deaths were reported in Hamilton. This reflects a 20% increase compared to 2019.

Why should the CTS be in Ward 3?

We strongly believe the second CTS should be in Ward 3 based on data collected by the City of Hamilton’s Public Health Services and The AIDS Network through the harm reduction outreach program that serves community members living in Hamilton.  To date in 2021, the mobile van encountered 1016 client interactions in Hamilton, of which 38% (387 interactions) of those interactions were from Ward 3.  In 2020, 42% (1333 interactions) of total Hamilton mobile van client interactions were from Ward 3. Also, Ward 3 has a disproportionately high rate of opioid related emergency department visits in comparison to the Hamilton rate.  In 2020, rates in Ward 3 were 2 times higher than the Hamilton rate (264.5 per 100,000 vs. 116.4 per 100,000).  As of February 2021, there has been 119 opioid related emergency department visits in Hamilton, of which 13% of the ED visits were from Ward 3 (15 ED visits). In 2020, Hamilton Paramedic Emergency Services responded 565 incidents related to suspected opioid overdoses, which is close to 11 per week, or 2 per day.  Of which, 25% (141 calls) of those incidents were from Ward 3.  To date in 2021, Hamilton Paramedic Services has responded to 313 incidents related to suspected opioid overdoses: approximately 14 per week or more than 2 per day.  Of which, 22% (69 calls) of those incidents were from Ward 3.

Why is The AIDS Network the right organization to open a second CTS site?

The AIDS Network has been a leader in the provision of Harm Reduction programs in Hamilton for decades. Through programs such as our on-site harm reduction supply distribution program, The Van program which we operate in partnership with Hamilton Public Health Services, and our support programs for people who use drugs, we have earned the trust of the people we help and the respect of our many partners in community health, organizations, and community groups. As an AIDS Service Organization, we are uniquely positioned to provide safe and welcoming spaces to the many populations we already serve and who have historically been under-served by Harm Reduction programs and services, including Two Spirit and LGBTQ+ communities, racialized communities, and women. Our community partnerships will also allow us to offer many on-site wrap-around services, providing several holistic health and wellness options for the people we help.

We strongly support the AIDS Network opening the second CTS site at 746 Barton St. E in Hamilton Ward 3 because they will be able to quickly respond to the urgent need for these services by working in collaboration with community partners and meeting the unique needs of various groups of folks through the provision of wrap around supports.

NIMBYism and Public Opinions 

We have started this petition, due to NIMBYism occurring in Ward 3. Some residents of Ward 3 do not want this new development in their area because they have concerns about having a safe injection site close to their home. This public opinion impacts access to vital health and social services amidst a drug poisoning and drug policy epidemic.

People's personal opinions and moral objections about safe injection sites are often based on stigma, misinformation, and myths. There is a major gap in understanding and their concerns are not grounded in the evidence. There is no debate, the data and evidence presented in this petition are crystal clear: safe injection sites are evidence-based solutions to the drug poisoning and drug policy epidemic.

We need to ensure that this lifesaving service is being implemented in our community. We do not deny people with diabetes access to their lifesaving medications, so we cannot deny people who use drugs an access to a safe space to use drugs. The failure to provide safe injection sites will result in more preventable opioid-related deaths. This is a matter of life and death. 

YES in my backyard. YES to lifesaving services. YES to reducing harm.

SOPEN Hamilton