Somerset West health centre opens temporary outdoor supervised drug consumption site

In late February, there were two instances in which staff reported nausea, dizziness and headaches while working in the consumption site.

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Published Mar 15, 2024 • Last updated 1 day ago • 2 minute read

The Somerset West Community Health Centre’s temporary supervised drug consumption site is in in an enclosed courtyard outside the building. Photo by Jean Levac /Postmedia

Two weeks after it and another Ottawa community health centre suspended their supervised consumption sites due to health and safety concerns, Somerset West Community Health Centre has opened a temporary site in an enclosed courtyard outside the building.

During a media conference Friday, Somerset West executive director Suzanne Obiorah said the community health centre received an exemption under the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act allowing it to temporarily open an outdoor supervised consumption site.

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The site will remain open while investigations into the source of health issues experienced by workers continue, she said. She said she expected it, like the temporarily closed indoor site, would serve about 40 people a day.

Obiorah said the Ontario Ministry of Labour had visited Somerset West and was working with officials there to find a solution.

Suzanne Obiorah, executive director of Somerset West Community Health Centre, says the temporary outdoor supervised drug consumption site will remain open while investigations into the source of health issues experienced by workers continue. Photo by Tony Caldwell /Postmedia

During the week of Feb. 26, there were two instances in which staff reported nausea, dizziness and headaches while working in the consumption site, something that had not happened previously.

“The symptoms were short-lived and we are thankful that everyone has recovered and is fine,” Obiorah said. “In the five years that we have been open, we have not received reports of staff illness while working in our consumption and treatment service. The health and safety of our staff and clients are absolutely our top priority.”

She said the investigations at Somerset West and Sandy Hill Community Health Centre, which was also shut down after staff there reported illnesses, were separate, but the two centres were in continuous discussions.

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Obiorah noted that supervised consumption sites were highly regulated and procedures were being correctly followed when the instances of staff feeling ill occurred. The regulations allow people to heat drugs before injecting them.

She would not speculate on what role the current toxic drug supply might have played, saying the investigation was ongoing.

“I want to separate the current drug supply from the symptoms that our staff have experienced,” Obiorah said. “We don’t yet understand what contributed to the symptoms. That will come out of the investigation.”

Somerset West Community Health Centre, which offers a variety of health and social services in addition to consumption treatment, has given up its parking for the outdoor space, she said, noting the shift to outdoors would likely mean more people around the building.

Obiorah said the centre was grateful it could offer the service again, though temporarily outdoors.

“We are pleased we are able to continue our services outdoors and once again contribute to Ottawa’s capacity in providing this critical lifesaving service,” she said.

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