London's supervised drug consumption site now has a new name.
The Regional HIV/AIDS Connection (RHAC) and the Middlesex London Health Unit have announced the location at 186 King St. has been rebranded as Carepoint.
"By bringing this service to our community’s most marginalized we are demonstrating that we care about those who continue to struggle with addiction” RHAC Executive Director Brian Lester said in a statement. “The point of the program is to provide life-saving services while ensuring other support needs are met – hence Carepoint."
In addition to the new name, the site has adopted a new silver and purple logo - the colours of global overdose awareness. The logo can be read in two ways. Either as CP for Carepoint or OP for overdose prevention.
The rebranding of the site, which provides clean needles and a place for people with addictions to consume narcotics under the supervision and care of medical professionals, comes as it approaches its second anniversary. The drug consumption facility opened its doors in February 2018 as public health officials struggled with a growing number of overdose deaths in the region due to the ongoing opioid crisis. Originally meant to be temporary, the site was granted permanent funding by the province last year and expanded its operating hours to 12 hours per day, 365 days a year.
There have been more than 30,000 visits and more than 209 overdose reversals at the site since it opened its doors. Hundreds of referrals have also been made to a range of services including addictions treatment and counselling, primary care, HIV/HCV testing and related clinical care, system navigation, detox services, and housing.
