Latest news with #supervisedconsumption
CTV News
07-08-2025
- Health
- CTV News
Toronto community services face ‘absolute fallout' of consumption site closures
Jason Stutz, a staff member at Toronto's Kensington Market Overdose Prevention Site (KMOPS), is photographed in the consumption room on Thursday, July 31, 2025. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Chris Young TORONTO — A great shift is underway in Toronto months after the closures of several supervised consumption sites, as their users seek alternatives and drop-in centres see an alarming jump in overdoses. Some segments of the city's homeless population have resettled near remaining consumption sites, but fluctuating intakes have been reported at different locations. READ MORE: Overdoses at Toronto drop-in centres have spiked since closure of 4 supervised consumption sites The Toronto Drop-In Network said there has been a nearly 300 per cent increase in overdoses at its 10 locations since the spring closures. At the same time, paramedics in the city are responding to significantly fewer overdose calls and the number of provincewide overdose deaths has markedly dropped. These changes have eased tensions in some parts of the city, while sparking anger in others. Ontario Premier Doug Ford's government banned consumption sites within 200 metres of a school or daycare in legislation that came into effect on April 1, targeting 10 sites across the province. The Kensington Market Overdose Prevention Site in Toronto launched a Charter challenge of the new law in court, and in late March a judge granted an injunction to keep them open. However, the other nine sites chose to convert to the province's new abstinence-based model — homelessness and addiction recovery treatment, or HART, hubs – and closed. At the Kensington Market consumption site, which receives all of its funding from private donors, traffic is up by 35 per cent, said supervisor Felipe Diaz. 'It's not what we hoped for, we thought we would be a lot busier,' Diaz said, noting that staff are handing out many more harm reduction kits. There have been wild oscillations in site use, he added. In May, 168 people used the consumption site but that dropped to 68 in June, Diaz said. Traffic is up for other services, which include an on-site doctor and nurse. The site is growing, signing up about 12 new people a month, he said. But like several experts and drug users who spoke with The Canadian Press, Diaz said the practice of smoking fentanyl or meth instead of injecting the drugs is on the rise. On a recent visit to the Kensington Market site, Michelle Marshall popped out of the consumption room after injecting fentanyl. 'It's sad,' said Marshall, who has been sleeping in alcoves, parks and alleyways after being kicked out of a hotel shelter in the spring and splitting with her partner. 'There's too many of us out on the streets now. It's busier here then ever.' About a 20-minute walk down the road leads to Lois Dellert's home, which backs onto a graffiti-lined alley that connects on one end to a now-closed supervised consumption site that was converted to a HART hub. The area also has other services for homeless people and a new shelter. Dellert said she is not opposed to consumption sites and wants people to get the help they need. But she is against the drug use just outside her home and had been concerned about crime after seeing people sleeping on her property, fights, drug deals and discarded needles. The site's closure has calmed the area somewhat, Dellert said, and the alley appeared much cleaner last week. 'There's still drug use, but it's less and pretty much contained to the entrance near the laneway,' she said. The Parkdale Queen West Community Health Centre, a 20-minute drive farther west, has seen tremendous growth since the new consumption site rules came into effect – especially since its sister site near Dellert's place closed. It has 180 new clients and recorded 1,731 visits from April to July, up from 1,220 in the same time period last year. A parkette next to the site has exploded with activity in recent months, partially because the city cleared a nearby encampment and erected a fence to prevent another one from popping up. Other encampments in the area were also recently cleared. 'We are seeing the absolute fallout of the decisions to close consumption sites,' said Angela Robertson, executive director of the health centre. 'We are seeing a migration from the closed sites and cleared encampments to now occupying public space in the parkette space adjacent to us and that has created a great deal of upheaval.' When The Canadian Press visited the location last week, two dealers arrived on bicycles, sold drugs to two people and quickly left. No one was doing drugs outside the health centre but many visitors admitted to smoking drugs in the parkette or on nearby streets. Several security guards kept watch as site staff checked on people. Neighbourhood group Residents for a Safe Parkdale said their concerns are being ignored and the centre's hired security does little to crack down on the 'chaos and disorder' in the area. 'The centre failed to state how it would address neighbourhood safety concerns with concrete, effective measures to end hard drug intoxication causing the criminal and anti-social conduct on and around the outdoor portion of this site,' the group wrote in a recent email to Robertson that was also sent to the premier, other politicians and police. 'The entire neighbourhood is littered with drug paraphernalia such as used syringes, bloody alcohol swabs and smashed glass crack pipes that you give away,' the group wrote. But Robertson said the centre's job is not to remove people from the parkette. 'That's not our role,' she said. 'If we see something illegal, we will engage the neighbourhood community policing team. But it is a significant challenge.' The centre has been promoting smoking over injecting drugs as a harm reduction strategy, Robertson said. She and others believe that is one reason behind a notable drop in overdose complications and deaths. Toronto Paramedic Services said they've seen a 'general decline' in overdose calls since May 2024. In June, they responded to 181 non-fatal overdoses compared to 354 non-fatal overdoses in June 2024. Provincewide, there were 609 suspected drug-related deaths from April to June, according to the latest data from the Office of the Chief Coroner. That is an 11 per cent decrease from the previous three months and a 41 per cent drop from the same time frame last year. Back at the Parkdale health centre parkette, Lexi Murdoch settled into a chair after smoking fentanyl down the street. 'I hate this stuff,' she said, adding that she was considering treatment that previously helped her get off opioids for years. Murdoch said the government's move to shut down consumption sites is 'already bringing chaos out in the open.' 'We need a closed-in area where we can smoke,' she said. 'I don't want to be out here, but unfortunately a lot of people are homeless.' A young person began nodding off on a nearby bench before falling unconscious. Another ran to the centre for help. Laila Bellony, a harm reduction manager at the site, sprang into action along with members of her team to administer oxygen. A few minutes later, the young person regained consciousness. 'It's been a busy few months,' Bellony said with a deep sigh. This report by The Canadian Press was first published Aug. 7, 2025.
CBC
07-08-2025
- Health
- CBC
Toronto community services face 'absolute fallout' of consumption site closures
Social Sharing A great shift is underway in Toronto months after the closures of several supervised consumption sites, as their users seek alternatives and drop-in centres see an alarming jump in overdoses. Some segments of the city's homeless population have resettled near remaining consumption sites, but fluctuating intakes have been reported at different locations. The Toronto Drop-In Network said there has been a nearly 300 per cent increase in overdoses at its 10 locations since the spring closures. At the same time, paramedics in the city are responding to significantly fewer overdose calls and the number of provincewide overdose deaths has markedly dropped. These changes have eased tensions in some parts of the city, while sparking anger in others. 1 site launched Charter challenge Ontario Premier Doug Ford's government banned consumption sites within 200 metres of a school or daycare in legislation that came into effect on April 1, targeting 10 sites across the province. The Kensington Market Overdose Prevention Site in Toronto launched a Charter challenge of the new law in court, and in late March a judge granted an injunction to keep them open. However, the other nine sites chose to convert to the province's new abstinence-based model — homelessness and addiction recovery treatment, or HART, hubs — and closed. At the Kensington Market consumption site, which receives all of its funding from private donors, traffic is up by 35 per cent, said supervisor Felipe Diaz. "It's not what we hoped for, we thought we would be a lot busier," Diaz said, noting that staff are handing out many more harm reduction kits. There have been wild oscillations in site use, he added. In May, 168 people used the consumption site but that dropped to 68 in June, Diaz said. Traffic is up for other services, which include an on-site doctor and nurse. The site is growing, signing up about 12 new people a month, he said. But like several experts and drug users who spoke with The Canadian Press, Diaz said the practice of smoking fentanyl or meth instead of injecting the drugs is on the rise. On a recent visit to the Kensington Market site, Michelle Marshall popped out of the consumption room after injecting fentanyl. "It's sad," said Marshall, who has been sleeping in alcoves, parks and alleyways after being kicked out of a hotel shelter in the spring and splitting with her partner. "There's too many of us out on the streets now. It's busier here then ever." WATCH | Province opened 9 HART Hubs on April 1: Ontario opens homelessness and addiction hubs, replacing consumption sites 4 months ago About a 20-minute walk down the road leads to Lois Dellert's home, which backs onto a graffiti-lined alley that connects on one end to a now-closed supervised consumption site that was converted to a HART hub. The area also has other services for homeless people and a new shelter. Dellert said she is not opposed to consumption sites and wants people to get the help they need. But she is against the drug use just outside her home and had been concerned about crime after seeing people sleeping on her property, fights, drug deals and discarded needles. The site's closure has calmed the area somewhat, Dellert said, and the alley appeared much cleaner last week. "There's still drug use, but it's less and pretty much contained to the entrance near the laneway," she said. Parkdale consumption site overloaded The Parkdale Queen West Community Health Centre, a 20-minute drive farther west, has seen tremendous growth since the new consumption site rules came into effect — especially since its sister site near Dellert's place closed. It has 180 new clients and recorded 1,731 visits from April to July, up from 1,220 in the same time period last year. A parkette next to the site has exploded with activity in recent months, partially because the city cleared a nearby encampment and erected a fence to prevent another one from popping up. Other encampments in the area were also recently cleared. "We are seeing the absolute fallout of the decisions to close consumption sites," said Angela Robertson, executive director of the health centre. "We are seeing a migration from the closed sites and cleared encampments to now occupying public space in the parkette space adjacent to us and that has created a great deal of upheaval." When The Canadian Press visited the location last week, two dealers arrived on bicycles, sold drugs to two people and quickly left. No one was doing drugs outside the health centre but many visitors admitted to smoking drugs in the parkette or on nearby streets. Several security guards kept watch as site staff checked on people. Neighbourhood group Residents for a Safe Parkdale said their concerns are being ignored and the centre's hired security does little to crack down on the "chaos and disorder" in the area. "The centre failed to state how it would address neighbourhood safety concerns with concrete, effective measures to end hard drug intoxication causing the criminal and anti-social conduct on and around the outdoor portion of this site," the group wrote in a recent email to Robertson that was also sent to the premier, other politicians and police. "The entire neighbourhood is littered with drug paraphernalia such as used syringes, bloody alcohol swabs and smashed glass crack pipes that you give away," the group wrote. But Robertson said the centre's job is not to remove people from the parkette. "That's not our role," she said. "If we see something illegal, we will engage the neighbourhood community policing team. But it is a significant challenge." The centre has been promoting smoking over injecting drugs as a harm reduction strategy, Robertson said. She and others believe that is one reason behind a notable drop in overdose complications and deaths. Toronto Paramedic Services said they've seen a "general decline" in overdose calls since May 2024. In June, they responded to 181 non-fatal overdoses compared to 354 non-fatal overdoses in June 2024. WATCH | Supervised consumption site challenges Ontario law: Supervised consumption site challenges Ontario law that will close 10 sites 5 months ago A drug consumption site in Toronto is taking the Ford government to court. The centre is challenging a provincial law that forces the closure of 10 supervised consumption sites deemed too close to schools or daycares. Provincewide, there were 609 suspected drug-related deaths from April to June, according to the latest data from the Office of the Chief Coroner. That is an 11 per cent decrease from the previous three months and a 41 per cent drop from the same time frame last year. Back at the Parkdale health centre parkette, Lexi Murdoch settled into a chair after smoking fentanyl down the street. "I hate this stuff," she said, adding that she was considering treatment that previously helped her get off opioids for years. Murdoch said the government's move to shut down consumption sites is "already bringing chaos out in the open." "We need a closed-in area where we can smoke," she said. "I don't want to be out here, but unfortunately a lot of people are homeless." A young person began nodding off on a nearby bench before falling unconscious. Another ran to the centre for help. Laila Bellony, a harm reduction manager at the site, sprang into action along with members of her team to administer oxygen.
Yahoo
07-08-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Toronto community services face 'absolute fallout' of consumption site closures
TORONTO — A great shift is underway in Toronto months after the closures of several supervised consumption sites, as their users seek alternatives and drop-in centres see an alarming jump in overdoses. Some segments of the city's homeless population have resettled near remaining consumption sites, but fluctuating intakes have been reported at different locations. The Toronto Drop-In Network said there has been a nearly 300 per cent increase in overdoses at its 10 locations since the spring closures. At the same time, paramedics in the city are responding to significantly fewer overdose calls and the number of provincewide overdose deaths has markedly dropped. These changes have eased tensions in some parts of the city, while sparking anger in others. Ontario Premier Doug Ford's government banned consumption sites within 200 metres of a school or daycare in legislation that came into effect on April 1, targeting 10 sites across the province. The Kensington Market Overdose Prevention Site in Toronto launched a Charter challenge of the new law in court, and in late March a judge granted an injunction to keep them open. However, the other nine sites chose to convert to the province's new abstinence-based model — homelessness and addiction recovery treatment, or HART, hubs – and closed. At the Kensington Market consumption site, which receives all of its funding from private donors, traffic is up by 35 per cent, said supervisor Felipe Diaz. "It's not what we hoped for, we thought we would be a lot busier," Diaz said, noting that staff are handing out many more harm reduction kits. There have been wild oscillations in site use, he added. In May, 168 people used the consumption site but that dropped to 68 in June, Diaz said. Traffic is up for other services, which include an on-site doctor and nurse. The site is growing, signing up about 12 new people a month, he said. But like several experts and drug users who spoke with The Canadian Press, Diaz said the practice of smoking fentanyl or meth instead of injecting the drugs is on the rise. On a recent visit to the Kensington Market site, Michelle Marshall popped out of the consumption room after injecting fentanyl. "It's sad," said Marshall, who has been sleeping in alcoves, parks and alleyways after being kicked out of a hotel shelter in the spring and splitting with her partner. "There's too many of us out on the streets now. It's busier here then ever." About a 20-minute walk down the road leads to Lois Dellert's home, which backs onto a graffiti-lined alley that connects on one end to a now-closed supervised consumption site that was converted to a HART hub. The area also has other services for homeless people and a new shelter. Dellert said she is not opposed to consumption sites and wants people to get the help they need. But she is against the drug use just outside her home and had been concerned about crime after seeing people sleeping on her property, fights, drug deals and discarded needles. The site's closure has calmed the area somewhat, Dellert said, and the alley appeared much cleaner last week. "There's still drug use, but it's less and pretty much contained to the entrance near the laneway," she said. The Parkdale Queen West Community Health Centre, a 20-minute drive farther west, has seen tremendous growth since the new consumption site rules came into effect – especially since its sister site near Dellert's place closed. It has 180 new clients and recorded 1,731 visits from April to July, up from 1,220 in the same time period last year. A parkette next to the site has exploded with activity in recent months, partially because the city cleared a nearby encampment and erected a fence to prevent another one from popping up. Other encampments in the area were also recently cleared. "We are seeing the absolute fallout of the decisions to close consumption sites," said Angela Robertson, executive director of the health centre. "We are seeing a migration from the closed sites and cleared encampments to now occupying public space in the parkette space adjacent to us and that has created a great deal of upheaval." When The Canadian Press visited the location last week, two dealers arrived on bicycles, sold drugs to two people and quickly left. No one was doing drugs outside the health centre but many visitors admitted to smoking drugs in the parkette or on nearby streets. Several security guards kept watch as site staff checked on people. Neighbourhood group Residents for a Safe Parkdale said their concerns are being ignored and the centre's hired security does little to crack down on the "chaos and disorder" in the area. "The centre failed to state how it would address neighbourhood safety concerns with concrete, effective measures to end hard drug intoxication causing the criminal and anti-social conduct on and around the outdoor portion of this site," the group wrote in a recent email to Robertson that was also sent to the premier, other politicians and police. "The entire neighbourhood is littered with drug paraphernalia such as used syringes, bloody alcohol swabs and smashed glass crack pipes that you give away," the group wrote. But Robertson said the centre's job is not to remove people from the parkette. "That's not our role," she said. "If we see something illegal, we will engage the neighbourhood community policing team. But it is a significant challenge." The centre has been promoting smoking over injecting drugs as a harm reduction strategy, Robertson said. She and others believe that is one reason behind a notable drop in overdose complications and deaths. Toronto Paramedic Services said they've seen a "general decline" in overdose calls since May 2024. In June, they responded to 181 non-fatal overdoses compared to 354 non-fatal overdoses in June 2024. Provincewide, there were 609 suspected drug-related deaths from April to June, according to the latest data from the Office of the Chief Coroner. That is an 11 per cent decrease from the previous three months and a 41 per cent drop from the same time frame last year. Back at the Parkdale health centre parkette, Lexi Murdoch settled into a chair after smoking fentanyl down the street. "I hate this stuff," she said, adding that she was considering treatment that previously helped her get off opioids for years. Murdoch said the government's move to shut down consumption sites is "already bringing chaos out in the open." "We need a closed-in area where we can smoke," she said. "I don't want to be out here, but unfortunately a lot of people are homeless." A young person began nodding off on a nearby bench before falling unconscious. Another ran to the centre for help. Laila Bellony, a harm reduction manager at the site, sprang into action along with members of her team to administer oxygen. A few minutes later, the young person regained consciousness. "It's been a busy few months," Bellony said with a deep sigh. This report by The Canadian Press was first published Aug. 7, 2025. Liam Casey, The Canadian Press Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
CTV News
31-07-2025
- Health
- CTV News
Kingston, Ont. health unit warns of increased amount of carfentanil in local drug supply
The South East Health Unit is warning residents about an observed rise in the presence of the synthetic opioid carfentanil in the local drug supply. The health unit says in a news release that the Kingston Consumption and Treatment Services (CTS) site has reported an increase in expected fentanyl samples testing positive for carfentanil, which is considered to be up to 100 times stronger than fentanyl. 'The presence of carfentanil in the unregulated drug supply is cause for concern, as its strength significantly increases the risk for drug poisonings and drug poisoning deaths. Reversing its effects may require higher-than-usual doses of naloxone,' the health unit says. The South East Health Unit is advising people if they are going to use drugs, to avoid using alone, avoid mixing drugs, go slow, and have naloxone on hand to reverse the effects of an overdose, if one occurs. Going to the supervised consumption site at 661 Montreal St. in Kingston is also recommended. The site is open daily from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. and is open to anyone. The site offers supervised consumption services, including drug poisoning response if needed, harm reduction education and supplies, including disposal of used supplies, naloxone, connection with community support workers, and drug checking services. If you have a friend or family member who uses drugs, it is advised that you obtain a free naloxone kit and training and forward safety warnings to them. You can also call the National Overdose Response Service at 1-888-688-NORS (6677). This is a toll-free, phone-based virtual service, where trained peer volunteers answer calls, assist in making a safety plan and stay on the line with the person for approximately 20 to 35 minutes.
CBC
25-07-2025
- Health
- CBC
Overdoses increasing at Toronto drop-in centres since supervised consumption sites shut down, network says
Social Sharing Overdoses at drop-in centres in Toronto have sharply increased since the provincial government shut down four supervised consumption sites in April, according to a coalition of community agencies. Before the supervised consumption sites closed, there were typically less than 10 overdoses a month at drop-in sites — which include churches, food banks and neighbourhood centres — said Melanie Joy, manager of the Toronto Drop-In Network. Now, these sites are reporting overdoses in the high thirties every month, she said. Joy said this surge is happening throughout the city, not just in the downtown core. "It's been a dramatic increase, without an increase in resources or supports," she told CBC Radio's Metro Morning on Friday. down in 2025 compared to the previous two years. But Joy says TPH does not track overdoses that are happening in drop-in centres, in the community, or at the remaining supervised consumption sites that are still open. Downtown church has become an 'injection site' More than 50 community agencies are part of the Toronto Drop-In Network, including Metropolitan United Church, located at Queen Street E. and Church Street. Between 30 and 50 people use drugs on the church's property over the course of a day, said property manager Frank Cormier. He said he carries Naloxone on him at all times. Last summer, he said he used it about once a month, but now he's using it two or more times a week. WATCH | Province opened 9 HART Hubs on April 1: Ontario opens homelessness and addiction hubs, replacing consumption sites 4 months ago After the safe injection sites closed, Cormier said people who use drugs are lacking spaces to go for support. "Right now, Metropolitan United Church's front lawn has become the injection site," he told Metro Morning. On April 1, the province closed nine supervised consumption sites in Ontario — including four in Toronto — that were located within 200 metres of schools or daycares. The legislation is currently being challenged in court by Kensington Market Overdose Prevention Site, a tenth site that was slated to close but is currently still open due to a legal injunction and fundraising. The nine sites that did close agreed to become Homelessness and Addiction Recovery Treatment (HART) Hubs, an abstinence-based model that provides access to recovery and treatment systems for people struggling with addictions and mental health issues, but does not provide any drug consumption services. Province says 9 of 28 HART Hubs opened in April While the HART Hubs were meant to be fully operational by April 1, Joy said that's "not what we're seeing in reality." As of last month, several of the HART Hubs don't yet appear to have full slates of services up and running. At Toronto Public Health's HART hub, now running temporarily on the Esplanade, only one program of 10 is operational, with the rest planned to get underway this summer or beyond. The province said in a statement the nine HART Hubs replacing supervised consumption sites "opened, as planned on April 1, including those in Toronto, ensuring no gaps in the delivery of mental health support services." The government is spending $550 million to build a total of 28 hubs across the province that will provide people with 24/7 support, the statement reads. It is continuing to work with the remaining 19 hubs "to finalize operational budgets," the statement said. Joy said HART Hubs offer services that both people working in the sector and those who use drugs have long called for as additions to the supervised consumption site model, such as more detox beds, enhanced one-on-one case management, and counselling. But she said the hubs do not include key services typically provided by supervised consumption sites, such as access to clean needles, which help reduce the spread of infectious diseases. "It's frustrating that there wasn't the foresight to include all these services together in one place," Joy said. Meanwhile, Cormier said the government failed to adequately plan the transition from supervised consumption sites to HART Hubs. "The system changed suddenly, drastically, and it didn't seem like anybody thought about what the gap is going to be between one model and the next model," he said.
