By Canadian Press

More money for Montreal supervised drug-use sites as city deals with addiction issues

Jul 21, 2023 | 9:02 AM

MONTREAL — Quebec is boosting funding for supervised consumption sites in Montreal to prevent overdoses as the city grapples with homelessness and substance abuse issues.

The province is dedicating an additional $1.5 million for services targeted to drug users, including $1.2 million that will go to four organizations in Montreal’s downtown, Hochelaga-Maisonneuve and Village neighbourhoods.

The Village became the focus of Montreal’s homelessness and drug abuse issues earlier this summer when the city launched an action plan to address resident and business owners’ concerns about safety.

Another $252,000 will go to Montreal public health to expand supervised consumption sites, which are places where people can bring their own drugs to use in the presence of trained staff.

Annie Aubertin, director of a Montreal supervised drug-use site, says the additional funding will allow the non-profit to extend its operating hours after it had previously reduced them.

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She says the decriminalization of drug use would further help to reduce stigma, but Lionel Carmant, junior health minister, says the government is not pursuing such a policy change.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published July 21, 2023.

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This story was produced with the financial assistance of the Meta and Canadian Press News Fellowship.

The Canadian Press