Ontario’s Closure of Safe Consumption Sites Draws Criticism

published on February 12, 2025 by Kate Johnson in Medscape

The Ontario government’s decision to close multiple safe consumption sites (SCSes) for people who use drugs (PWUD) and open 27 Homelessness and Addiction Recovery Treatment (HART) Hubs instead is drawing widespread criticism from clinicians who treat substance use disorders (SUDs).

The announcement is part of the government’s response to the province’s opioid crisis, which has seen the annual number of substance-related deaths jump by 68% (from 1660 to 2796) between 2018 and 2022, according to Public Health Ontario.

The HART Hubs, which will be spread across the province and are scheduled to open by April 1, will provide mental health support, addiction care, primary care, supportive housing, and employment services, according to a government press release.

However, they will not include SCSes, an omission that experts say is dangerous. An independent auditor’s report concluded that the decision was made without proper planning, impact analysis, or public consultation…