Kensington Market split over drug consumption site's future

Ontario’s shifting approach to the drug overdose crisis has ignited a fierce debate between those who see supervised consumption sites as critical spaces that save lives every day and others who say they’ve made the neighbourhoods where they’re located unsafe.Ontario announced in August it plans to close 10 supervised consumption sites — designated places where people can use drugs under the safety and support of trained personnel — for being within 200 metres of schools or daycares.

The Ontario government is planning legislation that will shutter at least five Toronto supervised drug consumption sites by March 2025 because they are located within 200 metres of schools or daycares. That legislation would also prohibit new ones from opening, as the Ford government shifts its approach to the drug overdose crisis toward a model it says focuses on treatment, recovery and community safety.

People inject drugs there under the supervision of staff trained to treat them with oxygen or naloxone if they overdose. Staff also distribute clean syringes and other harm reduction supplies. It doesn't offer a safe supply program. "It's pretty sad that it ever got to the stage where we had open drug use within literally eyesight of schools," Baranski said. "The province is absolutely on the right track."

"You can find a spot. Let's just be logical about where to put it," he said. "I think what's going to happen is there's a slow build up with parents and residents."Experts did not recommend closing Leslieville drug consumption site In Ontario, the province's new addictions plan involves opening 19 homelessness and addiction recovery treatment hubs, backed by more than $300 million in funding.

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