supervised consumption sites in Toronto's downtown core are more than just places to safely use drugs without worrying about dying of an overdose. and every last scrap of their funding from the Ontario government is getting cut next month. π©
https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/toronto/safe-consumption-fear-anger-funding-removal-ontario-9.7200610
keep your Naloxone and your buddies close, friends. π
Toronto health officials have reported an increase in opioid overdose deaths this week β reports from staff and clients say it's from a new batch of more powerful drugs circulating that are in a light green rock form.
https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/toronto/toronto-overdoses-9.7188284
#PWUD #PeopleWhoUseDrugs #HarmReduction #SCSSaveLives #Toronto
the conservative government of Ontario plans on giving special constables the power to make *arrests* for using drugs on public transit.
βYou don't solve these public health issues with more policing & law enforcement,β said Harini Sivalingam, CCLA equality director. βYou solve them with care, housing, support , & community.β
https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/toronto/ontario-transit-constables-arrest-drug-use-9.7186586
#PeopleWhoUseDrugs #PWUD #OnPoli #GO #TTC #OCTranspo #SCSSaveLives
The Ontario government says as part of a crackdown on illegal drug use in public spaces it will allow special constables to make arrests on transit, a proposal advocates warn risks victimizing the provinceβs most vulnerable people.
Conservative provincial politicians want this outcome, it's by design.
"Advocates fear the looming closure of the Niagara Region's sole safe drug consumption site will result in a spike in overdose deaths and cases of blood-borne infections such as hepatitis C and HIV."
https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/hamilton/overdoses-safe-drug-consumption-funding-cuts-9.7132358
Advocates fear the looming closure of the Niagara Region's sole safe drug consumption site, in St. Catharines, Ont., will result in a spike in overdose deaths and cases of blood-borne infections such as hepatitis C and HIV.
the Ontario Ministry of Health is cutting all its funding to the Fred Victor Centre and South Riverdale Community Health Centre in Toronto, as well as other remaining government-funded SCSs in Ontario.
(three others in Toronto run by Street Health, Kensington Market Overdose Prevention Site and Casey House, are not affected, because Ontario doesn't fund them at all.)
https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/toronto/ontario-drug-consumption-sites-toronto-9.7128193
The Ontario government says it will end funding to at least three provincially funded drug consumption sites in the province, including two in Toronto, in a move that is drawing concern from advocates.
"A new study has found that overdose prevention sites (OPS) and supervised consumption sites (SCS) were not associated with overall increases in crime rates in Toronto neighbourhoods.
Researchers...began investigating the issue after hearing community concerns that OPS and SCS locations were being linked to increases in crime. Instead, they discovered there were βneutral to positiveβ impacts to areas with sites due to a decline in most crimes over time." https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/toronto/crime-rate-drug-consumption-site-9.7038196
Toronto Public Health: Paramedics received 35 per cent more overdose calls over the holidays this year compared to the last two years. [CBC]
Gee, I wonder if that's because the government forced the closure of a number of supervised consumption sites. π€
Supervised Consumption Sites save lives, and i imagine they're better at it than any outfit preaching abstinence
"In April, the province closed 9 supervised consumption sites in Ontario β including 4 in Toronto β that were located within 200 m of schools/daycares. The province is now working to transition the spaces to abstinence-focused HART hubs."
yesss! an Ontario judge has granted an injunction to keep 10 supervised consumption sites open while he considers a Charter challenge of a new provincial law that bans the sites from operating within 200m of schools or daycares.
https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/toronto/injunction-ontario-consumption-site-1.7496602
An Ontario judge has granted an injunction to keep 10 supervised consumption sites open while he considers a Charter challenge of a new provincial law that bans the sites from operating within 200 metres of schools or daycares.
here's the full report by the Toronto Underhoused and Homeless Union (TUHU) and the Shelter Justice Housing Network (SHJN): https://drive.google.com/file/d/1v32x1hRxv8cjrW69d8VSXiBABS26fSPd/view
A-Dub π₯
A-Dub π₯