ACCKWA to run Cambridge's consumption and treatment services site

Cambridge's consumption and treatment services site is one step closer to opening, as the AIDS Committee of Cambridge, Kitchener, Waterloo andArea(ACCKWA) hassteppedup to run the service. But the location is still months away from being fully operational.

ACCKWAwill collaborate with the Cambridge North Dumfires Ontario Health Team (OHT)and other partners to complete the application, which is expected to take several months.

Cambridge city council picked 150 Main St. in downtown Galt as the location for the site in fall 2021afterCoun. Donna Reid brought forward themotion to endorse a consumption and treatment siteat that location.

Since then, thecity had beenworking with Region of Waterloo Public Health and the local OHT to find an organization willing to operate the site before sending the city's application to the province.

"I really believe that [ACCKWA] will be the proper organization to lead this CTS," Ried said Tuesday.

"I think it's the right time, it's about time we had a CTS in Cambridge and I believe it's in the right place on 150 Main."

But there is still much work to be done, saidRuth Cameron, executive director of ACCKWA.

"We have to gather additional information including speaking to community, both program participants who would use consumption and treatment services, close-by businesses and consulting with residents in Cambridge to gather all of that feedback as part of this submission," said Cameron.

Cameron addedACCKWAand the Ontario Health Teamalso need to connect with the provincial and federal governments throughout the process, meaning there is no firm date as to when the CTSwill be up and running.

Overdose deaths a 'sad and disheartening statistic'

Waterloo Region has seen fatal opioid overdoses increase by 58 per cent: from 61 in 2019 to 105 in 2020, according to the local chapter of the Ontario Health Team.

"We are now in a situation where,in addition to the COVID-19 pandemic, we have lost over 500 individuals to overdose in the last five to six years in Waterloo region and that is a very sad and disheartening statistic to repeat," Cameron said, noting over 100 people have died due to overdose in the last four years in Cambridge alone.

She said members with the city'sMulti-Agency Community Space drop-inhave been responding to overdosesin the area of 150 Main St. every month, butsaid there is an urgency to provide a safe space for people to use substances without stigma and provide wrap around supports.

Challenging the stigma

Having aCTS in Cambridge has generated polarizing views in years past. Kristin Kerr with the localOntario Health Team, said her organization will continue to challenge the narrative and stigma around substance use.

"Part of our job as the OHTis to help challenge the narrative around substance use being a moral issue or a behavioural issue. It's a health issue," Kerr said.

Cameron saidACCKWAwill continue to connect with the community throughout the process and address concerns peoplemay have about the CTSsite.

Cameron added ACCKWAand the Ontario Health Teamwill look to other local organizations that leadCTSsites inKitchener, Guelph and Londonfor guidance and lessons learned as the process continues.