As work continues to set up a supervised consumption site, the City of Timmins could be committing cash to the project.
This week's Timmins council agenda includes a resolution of support to address the opioid crisis in the city.
It supports the creation of a supervised consumption site and $1,028,731 for an Urgent Public Health Needs Site (UPHNS) as an interim measure while the consumption and treatment site application process is underway. It also calls for the city to "dedicate funding for a position to provide support and leadership in the development and implementation of collaborative community programs and services that address substance abuse".
The resolution is in response to an update on the opioid crisis from the local medical community at the last council meeting.
The group is working to set up a UPHNS as a temporary solution to bridge the gap as it works toward a supervised consumption site, which could take two to three years to work through the approvals for.
While the permanent site would come with a funding stream, the UPHNS does not.
Timmins and District Hospital will be the operator. The group did not reveal a location for the temporary or permanent site. The goal is to have the temporary site in operation by early winter.
In 2020, 40 people died of opioid-related overdoses in the Porcupine Health Unit region. In 2019, there were 22.
The overdose death rates in the first quarter were higher than 2020.
No decisions have been made on the resolution.
Timmins council meets on Tuesday, Sept. 28 at 6 p.m. in council chambers. It is also streamed live online here.
