Four sites are now being considered to potentially house a proposed supervised consumption site (SCS) in Barrie.
The Simcoe Muskoka District Health Unit announced today that its search for a location for a proposed SCS facility now includes three new addresses, in addition to one other that had been on the radar before.
The new sites — 11 Sophia St. W. (between Maple Avenue and Bayfield Street), 80 Bradford St. Unit 940 and 192 Bradford St. (near the corner of Brock Street) — were added by the SCS Selection Advisory Committee and join 110 Dunlop St. W. (at the intersection of High Street) as the four options to be considered.
Health unit officials said there was a need for more potential sites based on feedback received during public consultation.
An SCS provides a safe space and sterile equipment for individuals to use pre-obtained drugs under the supervision of health-care staff. Consumption refers to taking opioids and other drugs by injection, smoking, snorting, or orally.
Downtown Barrie BIA executive director Kelly McKenna represents the local business association on the SCS selection, along with chair of the BIA safety committee, Jason Ing.
McKenna told BarrieToday she was happy to be part of the process and that many voices are being heard.
“It was down to the one site, but there were some additional sites brought forth after hearing from the BIA, some members of council and the community consultation process,” she said Wednesday. “We feel these new options will allow for some great, positive feedback that could appeal to everyone.”
In a Feb. 13 BarrieToday story, McKenna said the BIA was “not opposing an SCS,” but rather “seeking to have a third location added to the list for consideration.”
At that time, there were two sites being considered for an SCS, including the aforementioned Dunlop Street West site and a second at 31 Toronto St., which has since been removed from the list.
Last month, McKenna said the BIA's stance was not that an SCS wasn’t needed, but rather the location needed to meet the needs of “those with addictions and those of our new broader community, including businesses, property owners, and residents within the downtown core."
On Wednesday, McKenna said: “We feel very positive about the process ahead of us and we are looking very forward to the next step in the site selection."
The next step will be community consultation and an online survey, which can be found on the health unit's website by clicking here.
McKenna encourages everyone to make their voices heard on the prospect of opening an SCS in Barrie and its potential location.
“This has been going on for two years and we just could be in the final stretch,” she said. “The survey will be up for a few weeks, (which is) plenty of time for everybody to help make a decision on this topic."
The survey, which is voluntary and anonymous, will be open from March 10 until March 31. To request a paper copy of the survey be mailed to you, call 1-877-721-7520 ext. 7333 and leave a voicemail.
Next month, virtual neighbourhood consultations will also be held for addresses involving people who live, work or own a business nearby the potential site locations. More information about these sessions is expected to be released in the coming weeks.
The city reportedly has drug overdose rates that are eight times higher than the provincial average, according to data from the local health unit. Between January and mid-September 2020, the health unit says there were 94 confirmed and probable opioid-related deaths in the Simcoe-Muskoka region, 47 of which were in Barrie. The rate in Barrie was twice as high for this time period in 2020 to date compared to the average of 2017-19.
The Canadian Mental Health Association's Simcoe County Branch and the Simcoe Muskoka District Health Unit are applying to the province to operate an SCS in Barrie. With help from the site selection advisory committee, they plan to bring a "viable option" to the Barrie city council for endorsement.
For more information on SCS's and the timeline behind the local application, click here.
