Ontario’s harmful backslide: A threat to lives and Canada’s legacy in harm reduction

The Global Commission on Drug Policy is deeply concerned about the legislation tabled in Ontario, “Safer Streets, Stronger Communities Act”, which threatens to dismantle nearly half of the province’s supervised consumption sites (SCS) by March 2025. This decision marks a dangerous regression, potentially reversing years of progress in evidence-based public health policies that have saved lives and supported communities. Supervised consumption sites mitigate public drug use, reduce discarded paraphernalia, and enhance community safety. Closing them could lead to increased visible drug use and safety concerns for local residents. Internal government documents have raised alarms, warning that these closures may result in higher overdose rates, greater health impacts, and more emergency visits. Pushing individuals back onto the streets and mandating compulsory treatment is not the solution – a lesson that has been reinforced by over fifty years of the “war on drugs”.