A community non-profit agency is seeking to establish an overdose prevention site in Moncton.
Ensemble Greater Moncton (formerly AIDS Moncton) believes such a site would save lives as the city copes with a serious drug issue.
Executive director Debby Warren, also co-chair of a community steering committee, became emotional when she addressed Moncton City Council this week.
Warren spoke about addicts who aren’t able to raise their own children.
“If we don’t address poverty and if we don’t provide housing and we don’t provide treatment, those children are going to be our future addicts… so we need to care.”
Warren says current drug supplies in the area are not safe, crystal meth has been hard to source recently and opioid use is growing.
She adds we can’t afford not to have an overdose prevention site, citing a study about the mounting costs to the health care and legal systems if we don’t act.
Before Health Canada can approve such a site, Warren noted how sustainable funding must be secured.
She believes about $200,000 per year is needed to maintain an overdose prevention site.
Some councillors were receptive to the idea but council did not make any formal commitments.
Between January and June of this year, statistics show 17 people died of drug overdoses in New Brunswick.
