As fentanyl crisis claims lives, calls renew for safe injection site in Montreal

As Montreal awaits federal approval for a safe injectionsite, activists are renewing calls for more resources to prevent overdoses.

Dozens gathered at milie-Gamelin Park on Wednesday evening to raise awareness of safe drug use. The recent spread of fentanyl, a powerful narcotic that's often cut into heroin, has created public health crises in many cities.

"I've lost fivefriends and it's fivepeople that could have been saved," said David Champagne of the safe drug use group Association Qubcoise pour la promotion de la sant des personnesutilisatrices de drogues.

Having a designated site to inject drugs under clinical supervision would go a long way to prevent overdose deaths, activists say.

"There's not really a way to test [for fentanyl] or avoid it, but you can reduce your dose, especially if you buy from a new dealer," said Sandrine Brodeur, a user who teaches others about safe use. "You can split your first dose in four, or in twoto make sure the drug is not too strong."

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Vancouver has had a safe injection site since 2003, which receives an average of 440 visits a day.

New Democratic MP for Hochelaga, Marjolaine Boutin-Sweet, was at the gathering.

"Supervised injection sites are very important to me. There would be one established in Hochelaga as soon as they come out. They're very useful as they do save lives," she said.