ANNOUNCEMENT: Supervised Consumption Sites Closures The provincial government recently announced a ban on supervised consumption sites within 200 meters of school or childcare centres. This resulted in the closure of nine provincially-funded sites, and one self-funded site. In place of these closures, the government plans to establish a new system of care, Homelessness and Addiction Recovery Treatmement (HART) Hubs. HART Hubs will not offer safer supply, supervised consumtpion, or needle exchange programs.
Ontario Newsroom Announcements: Ban on supervised consumption sites HERE | HART Hubs HERE |
Ongoing Research
Commentary: The Impact of Provincial Decisions on Access to Safer Supply Programs in Ontario, Canada
We provided an overview of the provincial government's response to the opioid crisis in Ontario, outlining the recent policy amendments and plans to shift away from a harm reduction approach to substance use. Harm reduction services such as safer supply programs (SSPs) and supervised consumption sites (SCSs) have demonstrated effectiveness in reducing overdoses and drug-related harms and are supported by medical professionals, researchers, and people who use drugs (PWUD). However, the provincial government has now placed restrictions on the operation of SCSs and SSPs in Ontario, resulting in the closure of 10 SCSs, six of which house SSPs. Harm reduction services will be replaced by Homelessness and Addiction Recovery Treatment (HART) Hubs, offering integrated services already provided by SCSs and SSPs. Further, harm reduction services such as needle exchange, SCS, and SSPs will not be included in the HART Hub initiative.
Research Paper: Regional Overview of Safer Opioid Supply Program Operations and Characteristics in Ontario, Canada
We collected data from 18 SUAP-funded safer opioid supply (SOS) programs across Ontario that were operational as of May 2024. SOS programs were categorized based on the city location and Ontario health region (North West, West, North East, East, Central, and Toronto). From here, we collected data on program infrastructure, wraparound supports, client eligibility criteria, capacity and enrollment, and medications offered at each site. The data revealed disparities in program location, with the majority of SOS programs located in the South region and none in the Central region. Further disparities were revealed when looking at the variety of medications offered, which can affect client enrollment and retention. It is important to consider the variation in program operations and work to minimize barriers for client access, as SOS programs have consistently demonstrated effectiveness in improving the lives of people who use drugs (PWUD).