Toronto's remaining supervised consumption sites have reported a significant increase in visitors in the two months since the Ontario province forced four sites to close on April 1, 2025, due to new legislation prohibiting operation within 200 metres of a school or daycare. This shift is part of Ontario's move towards an abstinence-based treatment model. While some sites like Kensington Market Overdose Prevention Site and Fred Victor charity have seen 30-35% more visits, others like Parkdale Queen West Community Health Centre are concerned about users no longer seeking services. Meanwhile, neighbours near the closed South Riverdale Community Health Centre report a dramatic decrease in open drug use and related issues, following a fatal shooting in July 2023. Overdose calls in Toronto are reportedly declining, possibly due to less fentanyl in the drug supply.
Visits up at Toronto's remaining consumption sites, 2 months after province forced 4 to close
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Toronto's remaining supervised consumption sites have reported a significant increase in visitors in the two months since the Ontario province forced four sites to close on April 1, 2025, due to new legislation prohibiting operation within 200 metres of a school or daycare. This shift is part of Ontario's move towards an abstinence-based treatment model. While some sites like Kensington Market Overdose Prevention Site and Fred Victor charity have seen 30-35% more visits, others like Parkdale Queen West Community Health Centre are concerned about users no longer seeking services. Meanwhile, neighbours near the closed South Riverdale Community Health Centre report a dramatic decrease in open drug use and related issues, following a fatal shooting in July 2023. Overdose calls in Toronto are reportedly declining, possibly due to less fentanyl in the drug supply.
Trending- 1 July 2023: Karolina Huebner-Makurat killed near South Riverdale Community Health Centre.
- 2 April 1, 2025: Nine Ontario supervised drug consumption sites (four in Toronto) forced to close under provincial legislation.
- 3 April 2025: Street Health saw 82% more visits year-over-year.
- 4 May 2025: Street Health saw 53% more visits year-over-year.
- 5 Two months after April 1 (June 2025): Remaining sites report increased visits.
- 6 Summer 2025 (planned): Most programs at Toronto Public Health's HART hub to get underway.
- Increased strain on remaining supervised consumption sites
- Changes in drug user behavior (e.g., smoking instead of injecting)
- Concerns about welfare of drug users no longer seeking services
- Improved safety and reduced open drug use in areas near closed sites
- Decline in opioid overdose calls (possibly due to fentanyl decrease)
- 'Mass confusion' at HART hubs
- Ongoing legal challenges to provincial legislation