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YT Government: Location of supervised consumption site confirmed

Press Release

21/07/2021

Plans for Yukon’s first supervised consumption site are underway. The facility will be located at 6189 6th Avenue in Whitehorse, a central, accessible location that will meet the needs of clients. The existing government-owned building is being renovated to accommodate the requirements of a supervised consumption site.

In the coming weeks, the Yukon government will be engaging with residents, local businesses, First Nations governments and non-governmental organizations about the importance of the new facility.

Supervised consumption sites provide a safe and supportive place for people who use drugs to consume illicit substances in the presence of trained health professionals. Like the rest of Canada, the Yukon is experiencing an opioid crisis and continues to see an increase in overdose deaths. Supervised consumption sites help reduce overdose deaths and increase the number of clients accessing addiction treatment services.

The Government of Yukon is working to partner with Blood Ties Four Directions Centre on the operational management and programing at the new site.

The supervised consumption site is an element of the Confidence and Supply Agreement and supported by both the Yukon Liberal government and the Yukon NDP Caucus.

We have lost far too many Yukoners as a result of drug overdoses. Opening a supervised consumption site builds on our government’s efforts to combat the opioid crisis and support Yukoners through a harm reduction approach. As we work to open this site, we will be engaging in conversations with local residents, businesses, First Nations and other partners in the community to share information about the value of this important space.

Minister of Health and Social Services Tracy-Anne McPhee

I’m so grateful for the work that community organizers like Blood Ties are doing to advance harm reduction in Yukon. This work is what made it possible to announce a safer consumption site today. Folks who are struggling most will have a safe and accessible space right downtown – this will save lives.

MLA for Vuntut Gwitchin Annie Blake

Quick facts

  • Supervised consumption sites do not provide substances for people to use.
  • Since 2016, Yukon has had 44 opioid-related deaths; 33 included fentanyl. Opioid-related visits to the emergency department made up 67 per cent of all overdose visits between 2016 and 2020.
  • Take home naloxone kits and training on how to use them are available across Yukon for free. Since 2016, 11,852 have been distributed.
  • Yukon will be the sixth jurisdiction in Canada to open a supervised consumption site, joining British Columbia, Ontario, Alberta, Québec and Saskatchewan.
  • The Confidence and Supply Agreement (CASA) was signed by the Liberal and NDP caucuses on April 28, 2021. It is in effect until January 31, 2023.

Contact

Matthew Cameron
Cabinet Communications
867-332-0615
matthew.cameron@yukon.ca

Julie Ménard
Communications, Health and Social Services
867-667-8478
julie.menard@yukon.ca

Francois Piccard
Chief of Staff (he/him)
Yukon NDP Caucus
867-336-2025 / 1-800-661-0408 x7051
Francois.Picard@yla.gov.yk.ca

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