Consumption and Treatment Services
In 2018, KCHC began operating a supervised consumption site at the Barrack Street site of Street Health Centre with services being moved to the Integrated Care Hub in 2020. KCHC is one of many organizations across Canada that have an exemption from Health Canada that allows the provision of health services in a compassionate and hygienic environment for people to ether inject, swallow or snort pre-obtained drugs under supervision. The services provided by supervised consumption sites are internationally recognized as an important and evidence-informed component of a comprehensive approach to working with individuals who use substances. Services are provided by a paramedic and staff with experience in harm reduction, including persons with lived experience.
As a satellite site of Street Health Centre, the CTS can connect individuals with a wide variety of programs and services including primary care, addiction medicine (including opioid agonist treatments such as Suboxone), referrals to residential treatment and detoxification services, mental health case management, and many other community health and social services.
Primary care is offered on-site by RNs from Street Health Centre, who can also connect clients with an on-going primary care provider or rapid access addiction treatment through Street Health Centre.
The overdose crisis remains a public health emergency and the life-saving services offered by the CTS are an essential service for those in our community. Our staff provide a safe, supportive and nonjudgmental space where individuals can use substances and have access to treatment services. The site is open 9 a.m. – 9 p.m., 7 days a week.
Services include:
- Supervised consumption services including overdose response
- Naloxone kits and training
- Harm reduction education
- Harm reduction supplies, including safer injection kits (needle/syringe program), safer sex kits, biohazards disposal bins, safer inhalation equipment
- Access to Opioid Antagonist Therapy
- Shuttle Service
- Disposal of used harm reduction supplies
- Primary care services
- Referrals to community services, including but not limited to primary care, substance use treatment services, health and social services
- First aid and wound care via the on-site paramedic
Integrated Care Hub
The Integrated Care Hub (ICH) opened in 2020 to meet the needs of underserved individuals in our community who may experience barriers to care, a service gap that was both highlighted and exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic. It provides 23/7 low-barrier and wrap-around services for individuals with immediate needs such as safety, food and rest and longer-term needs such as substance use and mental health. The ICH is operated by Trellis HIV and Community Care and Addiction and Mental Health Services – Kingston, Frontenac, Lennox and Addington with harm reduction and Consumption and Treatment Services (CTS) offered by KCHC. The site provides three main services:
- Consumption and Treatment Services
- Drop In Services
- Rest Zone
The goal of the integrated care model is to create a safe and welcoming space where individuals can connect with local services. The ICH offers a person-centred approach to care, where services offered are specific to an individual’s need and desire for support. The ICH provides value-driven care based on the principles of harm reduction, trauma informed care, stabilization, wellness and cultural safety. Anyone over the age of 16 is welcome to attend the ICH and access its associated services.
Drop In Services
Operated by Trellis, the drop in aims to meet the immediate needs of individuals and connect them with required services in the community.
Services include:
- Access to meals
- Harm reduction education
- Needle/syringe program
- Naloxone kits and training
- Case management
- Employment and employment support
- Provision of referrals to local health and social services
- Linkages to community organizations when they are onsite (including, but not limited to Addiction and Mental Health Services and Home Base Housing)
Rest Zone
Operated by Trellis, the rest zone provides a safe and comfortable space for individuals to rest and sleep. This service is available 23 hours a day with on-site staff.
Support Us!
If you’d like to support the work of CTS at the Integrated Care Hub, you can make financial donations via cheque or cash. Please make cheques out to Kingston Community Health Centres (you can indicate the donation is for CTS on the memo line) and mail or deliver to our Weller site at 263 Weller Ave. Unit 4, Kingston, ON K7K 2V4.
If you’d like to support the work of CTS by volunteering, please visit our volunteering page to get connected!
Learn more
You can find out more about supervised consumption sites and services on Health Canada’s website.
Hours
Consumption & Treatment Services: Open 9 a.m. – 9 p.m., 7 days a week
Drop In & Rest Zone: Open 23 hours a day, 7 days a week