The supervised consumption site is a life-saving health service that will provide a safe and hygienic environment for people to use drugs under the supervision of qualified medical staff.
The facility was originally scheduled to open on August 31 but has been briefly postponed to account for renovations, staff training and to finalize details.
Whitehorse residents are invited to attend an information session about the supervised consumption site on August 31. The Yukon government will continue informing residents, local businesses, First Nations governments and non-governmental organizations about the progress of the new facility.
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. Both parties have agreed to extend the deadline for opening the supervised consumption site.
Our government is committed to combatting the opioid crisis and supporting all Yukoners through a harm reduction approach. We continue to work with our partners to complete the Whitehorse Supervised Consumption Site and open this facility as soon as possible. We have lost far too many Yukoners to drug overdoses and research shows these facilities save lives.
We’ve lost too many people to overdoses, and this is one thing we can do to save lives. We’ve seen in other places that supervised consumption sites make communities safer. It’s the first step towards tackling the devastating opioid crisis that is happening in our territory. I’m looking forward to the opening of the Yukon’s first site in downtown Whitehorse.
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The site will initially operate under a class exemption from the Controlled Drugs and Substance Act, granted by Health Canada for urgent public health need sites.
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Supervised consumption sites do not provide substances for people to use. Supervised consumption sites provide a safer and supportive place for people who use drugs to consume illicit substances in the presence of trained health professionals.
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Two information sessions on the Whitehorse supervised consumption site will be held in the Whitehorse United Church (basement) on Tuesday, August 31, at 4 p.m. and 7 p.m.
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Since 2016, the 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.
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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.
Renée Francoeur
Cabinet Communications
867-334-9194
renee.francoeur@yukon.ca
Julie Ménard
Communications, Health and Social Services
867-332-3664
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