A campaign launched earlier this month by the Registered Nurses Association of Ontario, calling on mayoral candidates to support the decriminalization of simple possession of drugs, has the support of a service provider here in the city.

NorWest Community Health Centre has introduced a campaign of its own in the past on the subject, but now with the municipal election just days away Executive Director Juanita Lawson says residents can bring their concerns to those who are running, as many municipalities like Thunder Bay, are on the front lines of drug use issues.

“This would be a good opportunity for Thunder Bay to sort of demonstrate just the concerns that they have about the social issues that are taking place in their community.” She adds this would encourage the municipality and give them some direction at the same time as allowing residents to have honest discussions with each other when it comes to substance use issues in the city.

Lawson also believes decriminalization of simple possession in addition to other programs will help save lives in the long run. Currently NorWest runs their safe injection site on Simpson Street. The facility, also known as Path 525, saw 3,000 people come through its doors to utilize services while under supervision of medical professionals. Of those 3,000, 125 experienced an overdose, fortunately with no fatalities.

Those numbers alone and the observations made while the overdoses occurred has Lawson concerned over the increasing toxicity in the drug supply.

“The need to respond to an overdose and what it takes to take people out of that, we’re seeing some significant changes in terms of its more difficult.”

She believes a safe supply program, which NorWest is embarking upon a 15-month pilot project on, in conjunction with the safe injection site will further cut down on those numbers, saving the lives of many more.