Christian Estrosi, Deputy, Mayor of Nice, President of the Nice Côte d’Azur Metropolis, François Xavier Lorre, Territorial Delegate of the Alpes-Maritimes of the ARS (Regional Health Agency), and Maître Louis Xavier Michel, President of the Patronage Saint Pierre Actes Foundation that manages the structure, confirm the closure as of October 31 of the CAARUD “Entractes”:
On July 19, Christian Estrosi had wished to close the CAARUD of Rue Offenbach due to issues related to the cohabitation between drug users visiting the Entractes premises and the neighborhood residents.
In agreement with the Regional Health Agency and the Patronage Saint Pierre Actes Foundation, it was decided that the premises would be closed on October 31, 2012, and to organize in the meantime the continuity of the reception mission.
This closure agreement follows several work meetings and relocation proposals that could not succeed, notably the one allowing for experimentation of an innovative care approach for drug users at the heart of several nearby public services, in municipal premises at 181 avenue Maréchal Lyautey.
This leads to favoring a transitional solution for a previously agreed period, which will be communicated in a few days, while awaiting the definitive establishment of the CAARUD structure on the Pasteur II Hospital Campus site, starting next fall.
Although the City of Nice has no regulatory obligation concerning the care of drug users, it wishes to ensure continuity in the assistance provided to them.
This is why the City of Nice is also setting up a monitoring committee for the care of the drug-using population, comprising all concerned parties and which will be chaired by Dr. Joëlle Martinaux.
Finally, the ARS (Regional Health Agency) continues to work on opening a facility for drug users in another city in the department because the City of Nice cannot remain the only city to host and support these populations.
Neither demagogue nor unaware, just realistic!
The drug center on rue Offenbach will close at the end of the month; this is excellent news for the Notre Dame neighborhood. The project to renovate this space on boulevard Maréchal Lyautey seems definitively buried, which is again good news for Pasteur.
As early as July, I had asked the Town Hall to draw all the consequences of the failure of this structure, to close it and not to open another. In September, alongside resident associations, we fought to avoid a solution that consisted of relocating the problem without ever solving it. Desiring to present an alternative solution, I had proposed that this center be located in a hospital environment. According to some, it seemed unfeasible and demagogic. I am particularly pleased to see that this same approach now appears realistic to our elected officials since it is finally the one that will be implemented!
Gaël NOFRI
Mission Officer of the Rassemblement Bleu Marine for Nice and its Metropolis
