{"id":2584,"date":"2024-12-19T09:24:55","date_gmt":"2024-12-19T14:24:55","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/ottawainnercityhealth.ca\/?page_id=2584"},"modified":"2025-03-21T09:37:33","modified_gmt":"2025-03-21T13:37:33","slug":"faqs","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/ottawainnercityhealth.ca\/faqs\/","title":{"rendered":"FAQs"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t
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Frequently Asked Questions<\/h1>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t
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We understand that you may have questions, and we\u2019re here to help. On this page, you\u2019ll find answers to some of the most common inquiries about our services and resources. Whether you\u2019re looking for quick guidance or detailed information, our FAQ section is designed to provide clarity and support.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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What is harm reduction?\u200b <\/div><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/i><\/span>\n\t\t\t<\/i><\/span>\n\t\t<\/span>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/summary>\n\t\t\t\t
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Harm Reduction is an evidence-based, client-centred approach that seeks to reduce the health and social harms associated with substance use. <\/span><\/p>

Harm reduction can refer to policies, programs and practices that aim to minimize the negative health, social and legal impacts associated with substance use, drug policies and drug laws. It challenges traditional notions and beliefs of abstinence-based beliefs and this idea that everyone needs to be abstinent to lead a fulfilling life. <\/span><\/p>

Harm reduction focuses on positive changes and on working with our clients without judgment, discrimination or requiring that people stop using substances as a condition of receiving support.<\/span><\/p>

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Substance use exists along a continuum where more problematic use requires greater resources for recovery. Individuals naturally shift along this continuum based on life circumstances. Those seeking help often find themselves further to the right, particularly those facing marginalization and trauma, where addressing social structures is crucial to effective treatment. <\/span><\/p>

While abstinence is a common goal, the aim of treatment is to help individuals move left on the continuum as far as they wish and resources allow. Recovery is a long journey, often involving relapse. <\/span><\/p>

Even brief abstinence reduces opioid tolerance, making harm reduction strategies essential. Effective strategies to solve the housing crisis and toxic drug supply must integrate harm reduction principles at its core.<\/span><\/p>


If you want to read more, visit <\/span>Harm Reduction International <\/b><\/a>or the <\/span>National Harm Reduction Coalition. <\/b><\/a><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/details>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

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Why is there so much social disorder in my neighbourhood? <\/div><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/i><\/span>\n\t\t\t<\/i><\/span>\n\t\t<\/span>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/summary>\n\t\t\t\t
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There is no question that the amount of social disorder in downtown neighbourhoods has increased significantly over the past few years. The system of care for the unhoused, precariously housed, and people who use drugs, has been on the brink of collapse since the pandemic, which has only been exacerbated by the affordable housing crisis. Services are overwhelmed with demand and staff shortages are commonplace. This is all happening at a time when client needs are also at unprecedented levels due to the toxic drug crisis and the ongoing impacts of the pandemic on the mental health of our community.<\/p>

In addition to mitigating some of the impact of social disorder through access to our various shelter and supportive housing based programs, OICH is working with our clients, our partners and our neighbours to restore balance to the neighborhoods in which we operate.<\/p>

While we cannot control the social structures that have led us to social disorder challenges we see today, we are working with the City, our partners, police, neighbours and our clients toward solutions that will restore the balance in our communities that we all want.<\/p>

Treating people who use drugs from the unregulated market is also less effective than it was before. People are on extremely high doses of street opioids, and this makes it harder to stabilize them on opioid agonist treatment. Detox or bed based drug treatment is not recommended for people who use opioids due to the high risk of death associated with periods of abstinence followed by relapse. Housing people has become more challenging as well. Repeated non-fatal opioid toxicity events has led to an increase in severe brain injury in our clients. Brain injury is not treatable and will require many to live-in supportive housing models with 24\/7 wraparound health care rather than living independently. This is not to say that we do not treat, just that treatment is not as effective and it will take longer to stabilize people than before.<\/p>

There is no one thing or one approach that is going to solve this complex problem. We need all systems engaged in addressing the challenges and facilitating the engagement, stabilization and integration of people who use drugs and are unhoused.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/details>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

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What is the toxic drug supply? <\/div><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/i><\/span>\n\t\t\t<\/i><\/span>\n\t\t<\/span>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/summary>\n\t\t\t\t
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Around 2017 there was a shift in the drug supply in Ottawa. Pharmaceutical grade medications were harder and harder to get due to shifts in government policy, and powdered fentanyl (a highly toxic opioid) entered the unregulated market. The immediate results were an increase in opioid toxicity deaths and a very rapid change in substance use patterns. People who were injecting opioids began to smoke stimulants in order to offset the change to the drug supply. Fentanyl does not stay in the body as long as other opioids, so they started to inject more frequently to prevent going into opioid withdrawal. Most recently, a significant number of people who use drugs have switched from injecting to smoking fentanyl.<\/p>

The overall impact of this is that services designed to engage, stabilize and integrate people who inject drugs were instantly overwhelmed with demand.<\/p>

People began to inject drugs in the immediate vicinity of consumption sites, because they could not get in for service, but still felt safer injecting close to the health care centres who would respond if they overdosed. No sites in Ontario are permitted to provide supervised smoking, so people who smoke drugs also do so in the area just outside health and social services sites that will respond to overdose.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/details>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

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How do I help my loved ones stay safe when they are using drugs? <\/div><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/i><\/span>\n\t\t\t<\/i><\/span>\n\t\t<\/span>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/summary>\n\t\t\t\t
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While using and experimenting with drugs is a completely normal thing, there has never been a more dangerous time to do so. Talk to loved ones about the need to recognize and respond to an opioid overdose and to carry naloxone, even if you do not suspect they are using drugs themselves. If your adolescent or young adult is going to a house party, ensure that they or someone else has naloxone and that they know that they cannot be charged if they call 911 and the police arrive where drugs are present.<\/p>


There are many resources that any individual can use to get support to stay safe while using drugs. Aside from visiting one of the 4 SCS\u2019 in the city, there are many programs and services that can offer support. Check out our resources and information page<\/a><\/strong> for more details.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/details>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

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Where are the supervised consumption sites in Ottawa? <\/div><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/i><\/span>\n\t\t\t<\/i><\/span>\n\t\t<\/span>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/summary>\n\t\t\t\t
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Supervised Consumption Sites in Ottawa:<\/strong><\/p>

These are places you can go to use drugs in a safer way and under the care of these teams. There are 4 SCS\u2019 in the city.<\/p>