Vital Signs TV: Saving lives and fighting stigma

There’s no way around the fact that supervised consumption sites and safe drug spaces are contentious in communities. However, they are, by all accounts, life-saving.

This past summer, the provincial government ordered the closure of ten supervised consumption sites (SCS) across the province, citing safety concerns. The move was criticized by health experts as well as people who use supervised consumption sites.

On November 4, Hamilton City Council voted to call on the Province to keep the sites open. Hamilton is home to a SCS at St. Paul’s Presbyterian Church, operated Hamilton Urban Core Community Health Centre which has been ordered closed by March 31, 2025.

In the latest episode of Vital Signs, guest host CA Klassen hosts Dr. Sandy Ezepue (Executive Director, Hamilton Urban Core Community Health Centre) and Dr. Robin Lennox (Family Physician and Co-Chair, GHHN Harm Reduction Working Group) to discuss the order and to shed light on how these sites can mean life or death for the most vulnerable members of our communities.

Key quotes

“They are one of the best interventions we have to avert the harms of the overdose crisis we are seeing and prevent unnecessary deaths.” — Dr. Robin Lennox

“They are not just a place for people to use drugs. They have access to wraparound supports, primary health care and other services to help them reintegrate into society.” — Dr. Sandy Ezepue

“The people using these sites are our community members as well. They are our neighbours who are trying to exist in the same space and trying to stay safe.” — Dr. Robin Lennox

“We recognize that it’s not a one-size-fits-all approach and we try to meet our clients where they are at.” – Dr. Sandy Ezepue

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