Overdose Prevention Ottawa has set up its pop-up overdose prevention site at Raphael Brunet Park, across the street from 310 St. Patrick's St. in the Byward Market.
The newly-formed community group says the pop-up supervised injection site is in response to the rising number of preventable overdose deaths in Ottawa.
Robert Jamieson, a volunteer with Overdose Prevention Ottawa, and peer support worker, says, "We needed the site a month or two ago. The crisis has grown so much, we don't have time to waste for anybody or anything at this point. People are dying in all our neighbourhoods."
OPO volunteer Marilou Gagnon says, “Overdose prevention sites offer a safer space where people can use drugs and get the help they need if they overdose. They can also access harm reduction supplies, naloxone and support.”
Health Canada has approved an application from the Sandy Hill Community Health Centre to open a supervised injection site. It’s scheduled to open later this fall.
Harm reduction advocates opened a pop-up supervised injection site in Toronto’s Moss Park last week. The move prompted Toronto Public Health to open a temporary site until a permanent supervised injection site opens this fall.
Overdose Prevention Ottawa is comprised of community members and service providers who have come together to take action in response to the overdose crisis.
with files from Josh Pringle, CTV Morning Live