The Nova Scotia Health Authority will spend $500,000 on opioid overdose prevention.
The money will provide one-time bridge funding for ReFIX, the only overdose prevention site in the province.
A request for proposals to establish new sites in the Halifax and Sydney areas is expected to be issued later this year by the NSHA’s public health department.
ReFIX will also be able to apply for more money to support its operations.
"Every overdose death is a tragedy and overcoming addiction can be very challenging," said Health Minister Leo Glavine in a news release.
"This investment will provide a place for people to use substances in a way that is safer for them and the surrounding community."
In 2020, 45 people died from opioid overdoses in Nova Scotia.
Models of safer drug consumption - such as overdose prevention sites - support harm reduction by providing needles, responding to overdoses with naloxone and connecting people to important health and social services, the release said.
"Providing people with safe and caring spaces to use drugs helps to reduce overdoses and other drug-related harms,” said James Broesch, director of science and system performance for public health.
“These important spaces also allow public health and community-based care providers to support people who use drugs and better address their needs."
Quick Facts:
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Nova Scotia's Opioid Use and Overdose Framework was released in 2017 and includes a focus on harm reduction
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harm reduction initiatives include the distribution of more than 16,500 Naloxone kits and annual funding of $1.38 million for community-based harm reduction like needle distribution and disposal, and peer outreach
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funding comes from Gambling Awareness Nova Scotia
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Gambling Awareness Nova Scotia was established in 1998 to receive and distribute funds (a percentage of video lottery terminal revenues) to reduce the harmful effects of gambling. In 2020, its mandate was broadened to address other co-occurring mental health and addictions issues