Researchers and harm reduction advocates are calling for supervised drug injection facilities for Ottawa.

The authors of the Toronto and Ottawa Supervised Consumption Assessment (TOSCA) presented their findings during an event at the Ottawa Public Library’s main branch on Metcalfe Street on Thursday evening. The event was held in recognition of AIDS Awareness Week.

The TOSCA report, released on April 11 2012, recommended opening supervised drug injection sites in Ottawa, as well as Toronto.

Researchers behind a four-year scientific study have recommended the establishment of two safe injection sites for Ottawa which they say would help drug users and reduce drug use in the capital.

Dr. Ahmed Bayoumi and Dr. Carol Strike presented the findings of the Toronto and Ottawa Supervised Consumption Assessment on Thursday evening. The researchers participated in a panel discussion with representatives of the Youth Services Bureau of Ottawa and the Drug Users Advocacy League, as part of Ottawa AIDS Awareness Week.

Rick Sproule from the Drug Users Advocacy League interviewed on CBC Ottawa Morning with Robyn Bresnahan about the call from researchers & members of the public for the creation of supervised drug consumption sites in Ottawa.

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CBC News Ottawa report on our event "Sharing the evidence: TOSCA and drug consumption sites in Ottawa".

Contains graphic images of drug injection.

September 30th 2012 marks the one year anniversary of the Supreme Court of Canada’s landmark decision stating that InSite, Vancouver’s supervised consumption site, could not be closed by the federal government. In their 2011 ruling, the Supreme Court noted "the experiment has proven successful. InSite has saved lives and improved health without increasing the incidence of drug use and crime in the surrounding area." A year later Ottawa community members are still calling for the city to implement supervised consumption sites as part of an effective strategy to address substance use issues facing the community.

Former drug users and the families and friends of the many Ottawans lost to drug overdoses renewed calls for a safe injection site in the city Friday during International Overdose Awareness Day.

“As we are seeing more people turn to heroin, my concern is that these overdoses could increase,” said Dr. Lynne Leonard, a social epidemiologist and Research Scientist in the Department of Epidemiology at the University of Ottawa.

“By providing a supervised injection site we would reduce the personal risk and community costs of drug use,” she said.