In partnership with Toronto Public Health (TPH) and the Ontario CRISM Node, we conducted a multi-method evaluation of the closure of TPH’s supervised consumption site at 277 Victoria Street (inside ‘The Works’). The site, which operated from 2017, was closed on March 31, 2025 following the sale of the building, resulting in the permanent discontinuation of services at this location. Given the ongoing opioid poisoning crisis and the established role of supervised consumption services in preventing overdose, reducing public drug use, and connecting people to care, the closure raised important questions about potential impacts on clients, staff, and the surrounding community. This evaluation was initiated to better understand those impacts and to inform evidence-based planning for harm reduction and service delivery in Toronto and comparable urban settings.
The evaluation examined changes in overdose-related outcomes, service access and utilization, neighbourhood conditions, and the experiences of clients, staff, and community members before and after closure. Findings will support public health decision-making and system planning in the context of evolving harm reduction service landscapes.
A range of knowledge translation products are currently in development, including academic manuscripts, policy briefing notes, infographics, and presentations through webinars and conferences:
Toronto Public Health’s
Supervised Consumption Site:
A Pre
- and Post-Closure
Evaluation