The Ontario government has been attempting to close about half of the province’s supervised drug consumption sites as it seeks to shift away from harm reduction and instead focus on treatment. The government passed legislation last year to ban such sites next to schools and child-care centres, and has also said it won’t approve new or relocated sites. The closings were slated to happen on April 1, but a judge issued an injunction last Friday that will keep them open until a court challenge is decided, offering at least a temporary reprieve. And it is unclear which, if any, other sites will remain open with the same kinds of services as before.
The province says its push to close the sites does not mean it’s giving up on addiction care: It will replace the consumption sites with Homelessness and Addiction Recovery Treatment centres to shelter, employ and rehabilitate drug users, but they won’t allow visitors to take drugs under the eye of nurses who can help them in case of overdoses. Here’s an overview of the facilities that would close if the government eventually wins in court, and which could remain open.
Editor’s note: An earlier version of this digital story incorrectly listed two facilities as set to stay open: One in Sudbury, and one in Regent Park. Both are now closed. This list has been updated.