Several drug sites in Ontario are closing

Many of us didn't even know that there are currently 23 locations in Ontario that provide a clean and safe environment for addicts to bring their own drugs and use them in the presence of health care professionals. This way, overdose prevention is carried out and the risk of infectious diseases such as AIDS, hepatitis and sexually transmitted infections are reduced. Other advantages of ‘safe’ drug sites include informing drug addicts about state aid for housing, employment, foodbanks, etc. More importantly is the mutual connection between drug addicts, as well as their connection with medical personnel, which can potentially have a positive effect on the addict to reduce drug consumption and undergo treatment. These locations are mostly in major cities, with the most in Toronto, Ottawa, Hamilton, Kitchener and Thunder Bay.

The Ontario government recently announced the closure of 10 safe drug consumption sites by March 31, 2025. This decision was made due to urban planning restrictions that locations must be more than 200 meters away from schools and kindergartens. 

At the same time, Health Minister Sylvia Jones announced the allocation of $378 million to finance 19 new "Homelessness and Addiction Recovery Treatment" (HART) centers. 375 housing units will be provided, as well as inpatient recovery and addiction treatment. The new facilities will not offer drug monitoring, safe drug supply or needle provision programs, but aim to help people transition to long-term housing. 

Opinions and attitudes of politicians and citizens regarding this controversial regulation are divided.

In his first public address since the decision to close drug sites, Prime Minister Ford called the project a failed experiment that harms both the community and those struggling with drug addiction and called the federal government, Canada's "biggest drug dealer", because it is providing addicts with safer drug supplies.

On the other hand, the April 2024 South Riverdale Community Health Center (SRCHC) report states that: "Monitoring of these sites has shown that drug monitoring is a necessary public health service to save lives and prevent accidental overdose deaths." ." 

The Minister of Health stated that parents are concerned about left needles that their children could pick up. "Some parents no longer feel comfortable sending their children to the local primary school or have withdrawn them from the local nursery school." 

Toronto Mayor Olivia Chow has expressed her concern that closing existing sites in Toronto will have significant negative consequences, such as increased overdose deaths, increased pressure on emergency health services, and lead to increased drug use. In addition to Toronto, where 5 sites are closing, other drug injection centers will be closed by next spring in Hamilton, Guelph, Kitchener, Ottawa and Thunder Bay.

However, the Ontario government's decision to close several supervised drug consumption sites in Toronto contradicts the opinions of experts it sought on the operation of one of those sites. Namely, after Karolina Huebner-Makurat was fatally shot by a stray bullet while she was walking through the neighborhood on a Leslieville street in July 2023, the Department of Health commissioned two reviews of the supervised consumption and treatment services that operated within the South Riverdale Community Health Center (SRCHC).

In response to widespread criticism of the site cancellations, Ford said his government is acting on the basis of consultation with public opinion, not just expert reports, when it comes to this newly announced plan. “How would you feel should I put one of these next to your house? You wouldn't like it. In fact, I know you wouldn't like it, or your neighbors, or anyone else. And they shouldn't be next to schools. "They should not be next to the kindergarten," he said.