Consumption and Treatment Services are health services where community members who use substances receive wraparound treatment and support. They offer low barrier, life-saving care that helps us to respond to the current opioid and overdose crisis facing our community – and our province.
In May 2018 the Guelph Community Health Centre, Guelph Family Health Team and ARCH partnered to establish Guelph’s Overdose Prevention Site (OPS). Building on our life-saving efforts amidst this current overdose crisis, we applied to the Ministry of Health and Long Term Care to offer Consumption and Treatment Services (CTS) to ensure supports were available long term. Our application was successful. The CTS launched in April 2019. For more information click here.
Services Provided Include:
- Distribution of harm reduction supplies, naloxone and the sharing of health education.
- Supervised injection services. The site includes two injection booths where medical and site staff provide immediate medical oversight and ongoing monitoring to ensure safety of individuals using the service.
- Space for quiet activities, extending the length of supervision by trained staff.
- Foot and wound care, Hep C/HIV/STI screening and care, medical assessments.
- Support and referrals to addiction treatment, primary care, mental health supports and other community resources.
Community Consultation:
In December of 2018, as part of the Guelph CHC’s application to become a Consumption and Treatment Service, a community consultation process was initiated to gather community perspectives to shape supervised consumption and harm reduction planning and service delivery. Through this process, over 900 responses were received, with participation from residents from every neighbourhood in Guelph, which highlighted successes and strengths of the program, as well as challenges and concerns. Overall, the report demonstrated both positive community support and an agreed upon need for overdose prevention services in our community at this time. The full report can be accessed here.
