Rollins calls for transitional housing, alcohol program

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This article was published 09/03/2022 (925 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Winnipeg desperately needs a facility that pairs a managed alcohol program with transitional housing to reduce the risk of drug poisoning, says an influential city councillor.

“People are consuming things that hurt them and people need transitional housing where they come (in) where they’re at (with addictions). The substances they use can be causing really incredible harms, including cheap versions of alcohol that nobody should consume,” said Coun. Sherri Rollins, chairwoman of council’s protection and community services committee.

While opioid use has surged in recent years, Rollins noted alcohol is still the primary drug behind most WFPS emergency calls that are related to substance use.

Throughout 2021, alcohol was the primary substance noted for 4,152 drug-related WFPS calls out of 8,217 calls linked to all drugs.

“The majority of calls still pertain to alcohol. That’s why, in a harm reduction (effort), I’m so keenly interested in making sure that all governments are doing all they can to prevent drug poisoning on the streets,” said Rollins, who also advocates for safe drug consumption sites.

Since some vulnerable Winnipeggers are homeless and have an addiction, Rollins said an ideal facility would offer a transitional housing program that includes a managed alcohol component. In managed alcohol programs, individuals are provided potable forms of alcohol in the presence of skilled staff.

On Wednesday, council’s protection and community services committee voted to seek more information from the province on its stance on managed alcohol and other programs related to addictions. Council approval would be required to trigger an actual report.

Coun. Ross Eadie’s motion aims to have city staff report on “when, where and how” the province could implement a managed alcohol program connected to housing. The motion seeks details from the province on what, if any, plans it has to offer drug-checking services that can identify poisonous components within drugs. That effort is meant to help prevent overdose deaths.

The province would also be asked about how it shares substance-use data.

If council approves, a report would be expected in about four months.

A provincial spokesperson said the province could not immediately comment.

The motion came after the city received new data on responses aimed at preventing overdoses. A WFPS report notes 3,243 doses of naloxone were given out by paramedics in 2021 to 1,898 patients. The data notes the opioid antidote can be required more than once per patient.

“Some patients require two or three or four (shots),” said Andre Berard, a WFPS assistant chief.

Berard said many of the patients were treated in downtown, though the data released Wednesday did not reveal the percentage of incidents that takes place in each neighbourhood or ward.

A city official noted Winnipeg has begun sharing its drug data with social service agencies such as the Manitoba Harm Reduction Network, including the date of incidents and the amount of naloxone provided.

joyanne.pursaga@freepress.mb.ca

Twitter: @joyanne_pursaga