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04_V1_WAT_Nov30 2 uniq ue sho pping experi encesk-w surpl us 666 Victoria St. N., Kitchener Mon.-Fri. 8-9; Sat. 9-6; Sun. 10-5 447 Huron Street, Stratford M.-W. 9-6; Th. & Fri. 9-8; Sat. 9-6; Sun. 10-5 We reserve the right to limit quantities. Some items may not be exactly as shown. Some items may be limited in quantity. www.kwsurplus.com FRESH DURACELL BATTERIES AA .79 ea. or 10/$6.99 AAA .79 ea. or 10/$6.99 D $1.79 ea. or10/$16.99 C $1.79 ea. or 10/$16.99 9V $2.49 ea. or10/$23.99 $1499 $1999 $2999 $1799 Thirst aid bar set includes 1 hip flask, 2 shot glasses, funnel, metal carry case Supersoft sherpa blanket 60"x80" machine washable portable heater tip over protection adjustable thermostat $2499 TV TILTING WALL MOUNT 32" to 65" TVs tilts 0º-10º ea brand new tilts 0º-10º 110 lb capacity GIFT CERTIFICATES AVAILABLE STARNIGHT LASER ORIGINAL 3D holographic laser 8 program modes built in timer $ 4 • WATERLOO CHRONICLE • Thursday, November 30, 2017 Serving your community since 1856 By Lisa Rutledge For the Chronicle A controversial move to establish supervised injection sites in the region to address a growing wave of overdose deaths has the backing of the badge. Waterloo Regional Police leadership is in full support of a Region of Waterloo initiative to create supervised injection loca- tions as part of a broader harm reduction strategy to reduce fatal overdose rates, which are on track to break drug-related death records. Police Chief Bryan Larkin is quick to acknowledge provid- ing a supervised setting for users to inject drugs isn't going to solve the voracious opioid crisis sweeping communities, includ- ing Cambridge, Kitchener and Waterloo. The supervised sites will, however, save lives, he main- tains, and their role in tackling the opioid drug epidemic simply can't be ignored. "We view this as a tool," explained Larkin. "It's not going to resolve the issue, it's not going to be the end-all, be-all, but we think it is one piece of the puzzle that potentially could lead to fewer deaths, fewer overdoses in the community." Preserving life is among the most important mandates upheld by police, said the chief, and evidence from supervised locations in cities like Vancou- ver has shown such sites have "definitively saved lives." Larkin, who also serves as president of the Ontario Asso- ciation of Chiefs of Police, is fully aware some people don't sup- port supervised injection sites, perceiving them to serve as a magnet for users, and ultimately as soft on crime. The chief, well-known for voicing a philosophy that com- munities can't arrest their way out of addiction problems, insists police can't play by old public policy playbooks when facing down deadly opioids like fentanyl, a drug so potent it can kill with a dose the size of a sin- gle grain of salt. "As a police service, we rec- ognize that our community, our province, our nation has never experienced anything such as the opioid crisis and the impact of fentanyl." Communities weathered previous drug storms like cocaine in the past, he said, but nothing has come close to the death tolls created by the cur- rent illicit opioids available. While police support super- vised injection locations, they understand the sites will cre- ate their own challenges. Lar- kin knows fear and trepida- tion about potential increases in crime will arise in impacted communities. He assured police will have input into how sites are man- aged and will develop a strategy on how to balance policing in those communities. Waterloo regional police leaders work closely with the Waterloo Region Integrated Drugs Strategy group, which will operate the sites. "We want people to feel safe," he said. "People have this perception of fear. We need to make sure people feel safe and feel comfortable. Those are the pieces we need to balance." Aside from reducing the number of overdose deaths, supervised injection sites are also hoped to reduce drug debris left by users on local streets and parks. Don't expect a police officer on every corner surrounding injection site locations, however. A visible police presence could, in fact, undermine success of a site, noted Larkin, as drug users may not attend for fear of inter- action with police. "I think it's a real balanc- ing approach," said Larkin. "You don't want to overpolice it because those in need will fear going to those areas, so that will defeat the purpose." Those looking for a place to inject drugs will continue to go to restaurant bathroom stalls, he added, especially as cold weath- er arrives. A p r o g r e s s i v e p o l i c e response, according to the chief, must instead focus on pursu- ing organized drug traffick- ing schemes and seizing large amounts of drugs to get them out of circulation. That progressive approach also means getting users con- nected to treatment, a strategy that must ultimately advocate for significant investments in researching root causes of addiction and how to treat them. Possible locations for super- vised injections are expected to be selected this month and a full report on safe injection site programs is anticipated to be presented to the region's com- munity services committee in January. Funding for the sites, about $125,000 annually, will be fully covered by Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care, and will include costs of needle kits, sup- plies and safe disposal materials. Safe injection sites vital to saving lives, says police chief File Photo Waterloo Regional Police Chief Bryan larkin is in support of a Region of Waterloo initiative to create safe injection sites.