Supervised drug-use site boss speaks out after suspected overdose death

London’s supervised drug-use site is reviewing its processes and protocols in the wake of a suspected overdose death of a client at its facility.

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The executive director of Regional HIV/AIDS Connection, which operates Carepoint, the city’s supervised drug-use site, said the death of a client following a suspected drug overdose Tuesday afternoon has been a “tragic” circumstance for staff, who acted “swiftly and appropriately in this situation.”

“We’re committed to working with the province, following all guidance in the review and improvements of our protocols and processes,” said Martin McIntosh, executive director of Regional HIV/AIDS Connection.

“We continue to look at our protocols and processes and, of course, we will share those with (Queen’s Park) and fellow service providers in similar situations as it becomes available.”

Carepoint revealed Thursday that a drug user went into medical distress at the facility two days before. Carepoint staff responded to the individual at the first signs of overdose, using “all of the overdose response tools and resources we have,” McIntosh said Friday. Paramedics were called and the person was rushed to hospital where they were pronounced dead.

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McIntosh did not disclose any details about the individual or the drug they were using at the time, citing privacy concerns.

London police said Friday the investigation into the death is “active and ongoing” and investigators are continuing to work with the coroner’s office.

Carepoint has tools available on site that can help users screen for contaminants in their drugs. McIntosh could not say whether the tools, including test strips, were used by the individual in this case.

“There is an increasingly toxic drug supply in our community and across the country,” he said Friday.

“As this toxic drug supply continues to escalate, we are there to help reverse any potential overdoses, to respond fully to save lives. . . . It is something we are constantly looking at and monitoring.”

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The supervised drug-use site conducts approximately 85 to 100 tests on street drugs at its York Street location each month and has access to laboratory assessments if necessary.

“Anytime an a response is observed following substance use, we promptly evaluate any potential anomalies in the substance consumed,” Carepoint said in a statement Friday.

“We want to reassure the public that our consumption and treatment service collaborates closely with community members who use substances, sharing timely, anecdotal information about toxic drug supplies through our advisory messaging.”

Despite the suspected overdose of a client just days ago, Carepoint has not identified any concerns with the local drug supply that require an advisory at this time, the organization said in a statement Friday.

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The Carepoint facility at 446 York St. is a facility where people can use illegal drugs with supervision. The facility has naloxone, an opioid antidote, and other interventions available to help drug users if an overdose occurs. Carepoint also operates the city’s needle exchange program and connects clients to social services and other supports.

The York Street facility, a permanent location for London’s supervised drug-use site, opened in February 2023 after five years of planning. The program had been previously located at 186 King St., opening in February 2018 as an emergency response to a spate of fatal drug overdoses in the city, most linked to the hyper-potent synthetic opioid fentanyl.

There were 104 fatal opioid overdoses in London and Middlesex County and about 650 opioid-related emergency room visits in 2023, according to data from Public Health Ontario. Within the first three months of 2024, the latest date data is available, there were 19 confirmed and probable opioid overdose fatalities, according to Public Health Ontario.

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