Fraser Health has submitted the remaining components of our application for supervised consumption services in Surrey to Health Canada this week.
SURREY – As part of our efforts to bring supervised consumption services to communities where the need is greatest, Fraser Health is pleased to announce that we have submitted the remaining components of our application for supervised consumption services in Surrey to Health Canada this week.
“We have made excellent progress over the past few months in consulting with our key stakeholders and the community surrounding these sites as part of the formal application process,” said Fraser Health Chief Medical Health Officer Dr. Victoria Lee. “We will continue to have dialogue with Health Canada to move the approval process forward and remain committed to bringing supervised consumption services to Surrey as quickly as possible.”
In December, we identified two proposed sites for supervised consumption services in Surrey, which will be integrated into existing health services at Quibble Creek Sobering and Assessment Centre on 94A Street and on 135A Street in partnership with Lookout Emergency Aid Society. These sites were selected based upon an analysis of the data that showed Surrey has the highest rate of death due to overdose in Fraser Health. Supervised consumption services are an evidence-based response that has proven to save lives.
Since that time, Fraser Health has consulted with stakeholders and the public by engaging in:
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Meetings with five key stakeholders
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Two public information sessions
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A website providing information about supervised consumption services and an opportunity to provide feedback via a survey
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A newsletter to Fraser Health staff
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Interviews with people who use drugs.
During this process, we conducted meetings with key stakeholders, including the City of Surrey, the Downtown Surrey Business Improvement Association, the Whalley Community Association, Phoenix Society and the Surrey school district. As the approval process moves forward, we will continue to have ongoing communication with our key stakeholders to ensure they are aware of our progress and that any concerns are addressed.
Now that the final portions of our application for supervised consumption services in Surrey have been submitted, we expect to have ongoing dialogue with Health Canada over the coming weeks as they review our application, providing information as requested.
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