Windsor testing its first overdose prevention site

By Eleanor Dhillon

Windsor has launched a mock overdose prevention site to help raise awareness about the rising number of opioid related deaths in the city.

The site was launched at the beginning of August 2018, and was originally set up on Ouellette Avenue.  However after receiving complaints from residents nearby they were forced to move location 759 Victoria Manor.

The site was introduced to help reduce the number of overdoses in the city of Windsor. The goal is to approach people in a non-judgmental way to make them feel comfortable when asking for help.

Star Meloche is a member of the Overdose prevention committee. She assisted the setup of the project and has been working at the site since it was launched. Meloche over the years has noticed a large increase of overdoses and drug related-deaths.

Concerned for the drug user community, Meloche said the majority of drug users are usually people dealing with mental health issues.  In order to successfully move forward Meloche believes the stigma surrounding drug consumption needs to come to an end.

“When you tell someone who takes drugs that they are a ‘bad person’ they think ‘well I’m not worthy and I can’t get help’,” said Meloche.

Members of the overdose prevention committee feel that the media coverage of the program has been mostly negative but there has also been a large amount of support from the community and volunteers.

“We’ve been starting to get more positive feedback than negative which is really exciting and unusual,” said Meloche. “For a long time there was a lot of resistance.”

Brandon Bailey is a representative of the overdose prevention site. Bailey said he thinks in order to help people you have to be able to understand them.

“Many people do not understand addiction fully and judge a person’s journey way too quickly,” said Bailey. “People point a finger and say a person with a substance abuse problem needs to do, but it’s often forgotten to ask the person suffering where they’re at and how we can help them.”

For more information about the Overdose Prevention site you can locate their pop up tent on 759 Victoria Manor. Anyone is welcome to volunteer and help. The site is open every day of the week from 5:30p.m. To 10p.m. For any further information you can visit their Facebook page @WindsorOverdosePrevention.