SAFE INJECTION AWARENESS
Group using mock site to educate
A local addictions awareness advocacy group has begun operating a mock overdose prevention site in downtown Windsor.
Eight volunteers from the Windsor Overdose Prevention Society erected a black tent at the corner of Victoria Avenue and Elliott Street Saturday afternoon in hopes of educating the public on the city’s need for a permanent overdose prevention site.
“People are just going to keep dying if we don’t do something about it,” said Brandon Bailey, a recovering addict and member of the group. “People are going to use (drugs) no matter what,” said Bailey. “They’re using in our alleyways, they’re using in our schoolyards, they’re using in our backyards, and right on city streets. If they’re going to use anyway, we might as well give them a location where they’re safe.” Since the site is not legally sanctioned for drug use, the volunteers are providing the public with Naloxone overdose kits and harm reduction kits, which contain such items as syringes, pipes, and condoms. Volunteers at a table outside the tent distributed outreach material on the local and national overdose crisis to passersby.
“We are more than happy to give someone a tour if they don’t understand what it is,” said Bailey, adding he has heard many people wrongly assume overdose prevention sites promote drug use and provide users with drugs. Setting up the mock site did not initially go as planned. Originally, the group put up its tent in the vacant lot on Ouellette Avenue just south of Park Street East. According to Windsor Police Insp. Todd Cox, the property owner contacted his insurance company and was advised against allowing the group to operate on his lot in case someone got injured. The property owner then called the police to have the group removed.
“We’re not opposed to an information session in regards to what they were doing,” said Cox. “The only reason we’re here right now is because the owner reached out to us and advised he did not want them on the property.”
The group quickly received permission from Victoria Manor, a supportive housing organization, to use its front lawn for the day. Bailey hopes the group will find a new place to set up its mock site in the days to come, with the goal of operating it from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. every evening for the next two weeks.
After that, the group plans to work with police and government agencies in hopes of opening a real overdose prevention site where people can use drugs safely. “We are trying to consult with the public as much as we can, but we also have to remember that peoples’ lives are being lost every day because of this,” said Bailey, who is frustrated by Ontario Premier Doug Ford’s recent announcement to limit the number of sites to 21 provincewide. “From a Windsor Police standpoint, narcotics are illegal,” said Cox. “Windsor Police will enforce the law.”
Police followed the group to its new location on Victoria Avenue to monitor the site.