Naloxone is an opioid antidote that can be administered to reverse the effects of an overdose. Due to the prevalence of overdoses, Naloxone is available to anyone without prescription at participating pharmacies. You shouldn’t even be asked for a health card.
In other words, safe injection sites may save lives, but not the ones we care about. As a result, no matter how much evidence is presented on the benefits of safe injection sites to drug users’ health or longevity, none can convince these opponents that such facilities are desirable.
A safe, introductory health-care service, where users have the freedom to explore their options without fear of being charged, is desperately needed in Ottawa. By allowing addicts to use drugs in a space where they are surrounded by health-care professionals and treatment pamphlets, seeking addiction treatment becomes a step that’s much less dramatic and scary.
