Here's what Kitchener's consumption treatment site looks like

An interim consumption and treatment site in downtown Kitchener is ready forits first visitors later this month.

"We're ready," saidViolet Umanetz,director of harm reduction and overdose prevention services with Sanguen Health Centre.

The site at 150 Duke St.is set to open on Oct. 15. The permanent site at the same location is expected to open in Feb. 2020, although the provincial government is still reviewing the application, meaning funding from the province hasn't come through yet.

There will be at least five workers at the interim site, includinga social support worker, security and a nurse who will oversee aconsumption roomwhere people can inject their drugs.

The nurse is available to help people who are having trouble injecting, and is also there to respond to overdoses.

So far in 2019, there have been 48 suspectedopioid overdose deaths in the Waterloo Region, according to the Region of Waterloo Public Health and Emergency Services.

There were 61 deaths because of opioid overdoses in 2018. The region has consistently ranked above the provincial average for overdose deaths and currently has the eighthhighest rate of 36 regions in the province.

The site also includes a room where people can sit after consuming drugs.

"They will be further monitored for overdose at that point by a social support worker who will also talk to them about referrals ...and really have some conversations about what's next," saidUmanetz.

While in the post-consumption room, people are also offeredharm reduction supplies and naloxonekits, she said.

No buffer zones

Some consumption sites across Canada have a buffer zone around them, where police are more relaxed about drug infractions.

Waterloo RegionalPoliceService Insp.Mark Crowellsaid police decided against the idea in Kitchener, after researching what other cities have done.

"We will ensure that we allow people who are accessing this site to do so unencumbered. But there will be no free zone and buffer zone where criminal activity or other social disorder or public nuisance activity will be permitted," said Crowell.

The Region of Waterloo and Sanguen Health Centresaythe number of people using the site will likely be low at first, butthey expect the response will grow as the community becomes familiar with the services.

A permanent site would include more services, including trauma counselling and matching people with housing and income support.