New, temporary safe consumption site to open in Regina

The second safe drug consumption site in Saskatchewan will soon open its doors.

The Nēwo-Yôtina Friendship Centre in Regina has been given preliminary approval to provide a space for people to use drugs under supervision.

Saskatchewan’s first facility to do that, Prairie Harm Reduction, opened in Saskatoon in October.

Michael Parker, the Regina facility’s executive director, said there is some final vetting to go through. After that, operators of the site aim to be open in two weeks.

However, unlike Prairie Harm Reduction, this is only a temporary site, currently planned to last until September.

That being said, things could change down the line.

“In terms of next steps, that’s the kind of dialogue we need to have … about, ‘What do things look like beyond? Is there a need for a permanent site? Does it make sense for it to be at this location?’ Part of that is a community consultation that would take place,” Parker explained at a news conference Friday.

Parker said the facility’s main goal is to cut down on drug overdose deaths in the city as much as possible.

“For people who use drugs, there is a lot of stigma and shame attached to drug use. With that comes a lot of risk and danger … just around the different cocktails of drugs and the lethality of those. When people are using alone, there’s nobody there to use naloxone if there is an overdose,” he said.

He stressed the site’s operators wouldn’t provide drugs to anyone and they have a few rules as to who can use the facility. For one, no minors are allowed. First-time users will also be banned.

“The purpose is not to encourage use; that’s not the point of it. It’s about safety and trying to reduce the harm and potential risk so that people can, at some point, access the services they need … (But) you can’t go to rehab if you’re dead,” Parker said.

The news comes on the heels of a report from the Saskatchewan Coroners Service that 75 people have died from overdoses so far in 2021.

“The number of deaths has not slowed down in 2021. It’s continuing on the same trend (from) even pre-COVID. (This) is a startling increase,” Parker said.

The group was able to allocate some of its budget towards opening the new consumption site. It also received some funding from the federal government.

The site will be open from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. on weekdays. It is located at 1635 11th Ave., near the Osler Street intersection.