Ward 5 candidate Jerry Desormeaux has pledged his commitment to working towards stemming the tide of the city's opioid crisis.
If elected, Desormeaux says he will work to bring a mobile supervised injection clinic to Sudbury, which he believes to be more beneficial than a safe injection site.
"A mobile unit can offer a medically supervised space and sterile equipment for people who use drugs intravenously. We have a very serious opiod crisis here in Sudbury and the surrounding areas and I believe that a unit like this would benefit the people," said Desormeaux in a news release.
Thousands of lives are being taken each year across Canada due to this epidemic. These people require services. They need support. Most of them has had hard lives and they need to be supported. Saving lives and preventing the transmission of HIV and Hepatitis C should be a priority."
Full text of Jerry Desormeaux's news release can be found below:
More beneficial than a safe injection site is a mobile supervised injection clinic.
This is a serious problem in our community which needs to be addressed. If elected, I will put forth my commitment to install this type of service.
A mobile unit can offer a medically supervised space and sterile equipment for people who use drugs intravenously. We have a very serious opiod crisis here in Sudbury and the surrounding areas and I believe that a unit like this would benefit the people.
Thousands of lives are being taken each year across Canada due to this epidemic.
These people require services. They need support. Most of them has had hard lives and they need to be supported. Saving lives and preventing the transmission of HIV and Hepatitis C should be a priority.
Montreal has opened their first unit as of June 20, 2014, an initiative that is unique in North America.
This may help those who visit the mobile clinic to want to pursue detox programs.
In 2016, only 2,458 lives were lost due to overdose according to the Public Health Agency of Canada. The success of supervised injection clinics in helping to save lives has been demonstrated in Vancouver. If this program can save lives, it is definitely worth the investment.
Federal Liberals quote from Jane Philpott, Canada's Health Minister, in 2015:
“Solid evidence shows that, when properly set up and maintained, supervised consumption sites save lives, and they do it without increasing drug use and crime in the neighbourhoods”.
We can afford to have 2 outreach workers and 2 nurses operate the unit at a minimal cost.
This mobile unit can help the health workers effort to prevent deaths and reduce the spread of diseases. The estimated cost for a 3/4 ton van is $150,000.00, plus approximately $40,000.00 for yearly maintenance.
We would need to determine the other costs for outfitting the unit, and an annual cost needs to be determined based on operating hours and staffing requirements.
“Ontario Government announced in August it would provide over 222 million dollars over 3 years through an opiod addiction and overdose program”.
If we, the City can invest in 100 million plus dollars for an Event Centre or pay $360,000 for a bathroom, then I would think we should be able to invest in an addiction mobile site – No questions asked!
It is time to address this issue
Jerry Desormeaux,
Candidate – Ward 5
