Community Open House
No registration is required. People can come by to ask questions and learn about the Consumption and Treatment Services.
| Location | Dates |
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Church of St. John the Evangelist (Lower Parish Hall) 23 Water Street North, Kitchener |
September 30, 2019 | 6 - 9 p.m. October 1, 2019, 9 a.m. - 4 p.m. |
Updates on the CTS sites
An interim site is currently being established at 150 Duke Street West, the corner of Duke and College Street in downtown Kitchener.
Community engagement continues to be an important component of Consumption and Treatment Services implementation. Staff will be working with community stakeholders to increase awareness and understanding of the services offered on site, ensure mechanisms are in place to respond to any issues should they arise, and continue to proactively connect with stakeholders in proximity to the site to answer questions and prevent issues from occurring.
| 150 Duke Street West, Kitchener |
|
September 9, 2019 - With the lease negotiations completed and the lease signed, work on the interim site has started. The renovations are expected to take approximately four weeks and the dates for the opening of interim services will be confirmed within two weeks. Council will be advised of relevant dates (i.e. tour for council members). The second floor of 150 Duke Street West was chosen as the interim site to minimize disruption to clients and the general community. Public Health worked with Sanguen Health Centre to prepare for implementation of the interim service model to receive a time-limited class exemption from the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act (CDSA) to operate this urgent public health need site. Public Health and Sanguen Health Centre have been working with Region of Waterloo Facilities and architects to design both the interim and permanent sites. Health Canada has also provided an exemption from the CDSA for Public Health and Sanguen Health Centre to operate a permanent CTS at 150 Duke Street West. The permanent CTS site is expected to be operational in February 2020. |
| CTS in Cambridge |
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On June 19, 2019, Cambridge Council passed a resolution in support of proceeding with the identification of candidate sites for Consumption and Treatment Services with wrap around services in Cambridge, outside of the core areas; and in an area of need as per the requirements of the provincial Consumption and Treatment Services Program. As well, the Council directed the development of a community consultation approach be developed in consultation with the proposed Community Wellbeing Advisory Committee to support the sited identification. This work will be supported by a professional facilitator contracted to assist with the design and implementation of the community consultation for a site to be identified as a potential location for Consumption and Treatment Services in Cambridge. Public Health staff continues to work with Cambridge staff on this process to identify candidate sites. |
CTS Chronology
| Date | Information |
| October 2017-August 2018 | Research identifies the need for Consumption and Treatment Services and where they should be located and 150 Duke Street West is one Kitchener possibility that meets all the criteria |
| August 14, 2018 | 150 Duke Street West is first approved by Regional Council as a possible Kitchener location |
| January 8, 2019 | 150 Duke Street West community consultation is approved by Regional Council |
| March 2019 | Community consultation report shows strong support for 150 Duke Street West compared to other Kitchener locations |
| April 9, 2019 | 150 Duke Street West is recommended because of:
|
| April 9, 2019 |
Board of Health approves recommendation of submitting a Federal and Provincial application to have Consumption and Treatment Services at 150 Duke Street West |
| April 15, 2019 | Kitchener City Council approves moving forward with a Federal and Provincial application for Consumption and Treatment Services at 150 Duke Street West |
| April 17, 2019 | Board of Health ratifies decision to move forward with Consumption and Treatment Services at 150 Duke Street West in Kitchener. Public Health to proceed with applying for an exemption under the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act through Health Canada, and to the Ministry of Health and Long-term Care for funding. |
| June 5, 2019 | Board of Health approves recommendation for the interim site to be located at 150 Duke Street West, and agreed to revise the 2019 budget to fund the one-time capital and ongoing operating costs for the interim site. |
| September 9, 2019 | The lease negotiations for 150 Duke Street were completed and the lease was signed. The work on the interim site started and Council was advised at the Community Services Council meeting. |
Information about CTS in Waterloo Region
| About Consumption and Treatment Services |
|
Consumption and Treatment Services are part of a range of evidence-based services that support prevention, harm reduction, and treatment for people living with substance use challenges. In 2017, 86 people died of opioid related drug overdoses in Waterloo Region. It is suspected that a further 53 people died in 2018. As of August 2, 2019, it is estimated that 46 people have died of opioid related drug overdoses in Waterloo Region this year already. Overdose death is a serious concern and with our partners we are working hard to reduce the harm from substance use. Problematic substance use is a complex issue faced by many people, and requires a multifaceted approach that includes prevention, treatment, harm reduction, and justice and enforcement. CTS are a compassionate, comprehensive, and collaborative form of evidence-based care and provide options when clients are ready for change. CTS are a place where people can use drugs in a monitored, hygienic environment to reduce harm from substance use while offering integrated, wrap-around services such as counselling, primary care, opioid-dependency treatment, and other health and social services. CTS provide a safe environment for people who use drugs. They reduce:
The program also includes requirements to address community concerns, and ensure ongoing community engagement and liaison where Consumption and Treatment Services are established. A literature review of Supervised Consumption Services was completed by Public Health in November 2016. Consumption and Treatment Services (referred to as CTS) will provide integrated, wrap-around services that connect clients who use drugs to primary care, treatment, and other health and social services. The program also includes requirements to address community concerns, and ensure ongoing community engagement and liaison where Consumption and Treatment Services are established. |
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Community Advisory Group |
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Minutes coming soon |
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Frequently Asked Questions |
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If you want to learn more about consumption and treatment services, please check the Frequently Asked Questions document. A number of questions were asked at the community consultation sessions that took place between January 29th and February 13th in Kitchener and Cambridge. The following link provides responses to questions asked – Community Consultation Questions and Answers. |
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Contact |
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To contact us regarding Consumption and Treatment Services, please email cts@regionofwaterloo.ca or leave a message at 519-575-4400 ext.5613. |
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