Article content continued

“If we weren’t here, it would be even worse.”

Still, skepticism persists.

Toronto’s medical officer of health, Dr. David McKeown, recently called for three supervised-injection sites in the city amid growing overdose rates.

In response, federal Conservative health critic Dr. Kellie Leitch warned that “drugs like heroin are dangerous and addictive which is why we believe that every effort should be made to help people get off drugs.”

The Toronto Police Association’s president is worried such facilities will attract crime and loitering and swallow up police resources. The city would be better off directing money at treatment, Mike McCormack said.

“Insite is not a model we want to see replicated.”

Nestled in the shadow of the dilapidated Balmoral Hotel, Insite sees 600 to 900 visitors daily. Clients register using whatever name they want and tell staff what drug they’ve brought with them — typically heroin, cocaine or meth.

They pick up whatever supplies they need from a counter — syringe, cooker, alcoholic swab, tourniquet — and are assigned to one of 13 mirrored, and constantly disinfected, booths in plain view of nurses and support staff.

Nurses won’t perform injections for clients but may offer guidance on certain techniques to reduce risks, Day said.

Afterwards, clients can grab a coffee or juice in the “chill lounge” before leaving.

Clients are never pressured to use the detox facility upstairs or enrol in addiction treatment. Most of them are entrenched in their drug use and have extensive histories of trauma and abuse, Day said. It takes time to build relationships with them.