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London’s supervised drug-use site is reviewing its processes and protocols in the wake of a suspected overdose death of a client at its facility.
The executive director of the Regional HIV/AIDS Connection, which operates Carepoint, the city’s supervised drug-use site, said the death of a client following a suspected drug overdose Tuesday afternoon has been a “tragic” circumstance for staff, who acted “swiftly and appropriately in this situation.”
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“We’re committed to working with the province, following all guidance in the review and enhancements of our protocols and processes,” said Martin McIntosh, executive director of the Regional HIV/AIDS Connection.
“We continue to look at our protocols and processes and, of course, we will share those with (Queen’s Park) and fellow service providers in similar situations as it becomes available.”
Carepoint revealed Thursday that a drug user went into medical distress at the facility two days before. Carepoint staff responded to the individual at the first signs of overdose, using “all of the overdose response tools and resources we have,” McIntosh said Thursday. Paramedics were called and the person was rushed to hospital where they were pronounced dead.
Martin did not disclose any details about the individual or the drug they were using at the time, citing privacy concerns.
Carepoint has tools available on site that can help users screen for contaminants in their drugs, such as barbiturates. Martin could not say whether the tools, including test strips, were used by the individual in this case.
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“There is an increasingly toxic drug supply in our community and across the country,” McIntosh said.
Carepoint is a facility where people can use illegal drugs with supervision. The facility has naloxone, an opioid antidote, and other interventions available to help drug users if an overdose occurs. Carepoint also operates the city’s needle exchange program and connects clients to social services and other supports.
The facility at 446 York St., a permanent location for London’s supervised drug-use site, opened in February 2023 after five years of planning. The program had been previously located at 186 King St., opening in February 2018 as an emergency response to a spate of fatal drug overdoses in the city, most linked to the hyper-potent synthetic opioid fentanyl.
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