TORONTO — Toronto’s appearing medical officer of well being says emergency companies will see a rise in calls after new provincial legal guidelines shutter 5 supervised drug consumption websites within the metropolis this spring.
Dr. Na-Koshie Lamptey is recommending that town’s board of well being urge the province to increase entry to supervised consumption websites that adjust to the brand new guidelines, together with at present websites which might be anticipated to proceed working.
However along with shutting down 10 supervised consumption websites throughout Ontario as a consequence of their proximity to varsities and daycares, the provincial authorities has banned new websites from opening altogether.
The province is shifting away from hurt discount to an abstinence-based mannequin because it launches 19 new “homelessness and addiction recovery treatment hubs” — or HART hubs, because the province calls them — plus 375 extremely supportive housing models at a deliberate value of $378 million.
Lamptey is recommending that the brand new hubs allow needle trade applications, and would additionally wish to see the province’s plans to mitigate well being system impacts.
However the province says it’s forging forward with its deliberate restrictions, citing security considerations raised by households close to the websites because the driving drive in its determination.
This report by The Canadian Press was first revealed Jan. 20, 2025.
