Supervised Consumption Services Needs Assessment Report Released

Northwestern Health Unit (NWHU) has released a report that examines the need for supervised consumption services (SCS) in four local communities: Kenora, Dryden, Sioux Lookout, and Fort Frances. The report concludes that SCS could be beneficial in the studied communities.

The project began in early 2022 when NWHU hired an independent consultant to conduct a needs assessment due to increased interest from the public and partners and worsening local statistics for drug and opioid overdoses. “Overdose deaths more than tripled from 2019 to 2021 and the final numbers for 2022 are expected to be similar or higher than 2021.” explained Dr. Kit Young Hoon. LBCG Consulting for Impact led the project, which included focus groups and interviews with key stakeholders, a survey for the public, and a survey for potential service users. “We hired an outside firm to conduct this work to ensure a range of expertise and dedicated time and resources to ensure a high-quality and objective process and final report,” said NWHU Medical Officer of Health, Dr. Kit Young Hoon.

In total, over 1,850 stakeholders were engaged in the project. “We want to thank everyone who participated and shared their knowledge and experiences. The feedback we received helped to make this project reflective of our communities and will help our communities move forward with community-based solutions.”

As the next steps, Northwestern Health Unit will discuss the issue with relevant local partners to further address the overdose crisis. The full report and more information about supervised consumption services can be found on the NWHU website: Supervised Consumption Services Needs Assessment – Northwestern Health Unit (nwhu.on.ca)  

As community members, there are things the public can do to help with this issue, such as learning about local resources and connecting with local organizations working in this area. For more ideas visit our website Opioids in Our Communities (nwhu.on.ca).

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Media Contact
Dr. Kit Young Hoon
Medical Officer of Health
Northwestern Health Unit
jbegg@nwhu.on.ca