August 30th, 2024
August 30th, 2024
TORONTO – Jill Andrew (Toronto – St. Paul’s), Ontario NDP critic for Women's Social and Economic Opportunity has written to the Premier’s office ahead of Overdose Awareness Day to raise concerns about the impact of closing the Toronto-based consumption and treatment sites on her community.
“Ontario is in the middle of an overdose epidemic and a toxic drug supply crisis,” said Andrew. “This crisis claims one life every 2.5 hours, including women and gender-diverse community members who get turned away from shelters that are already at capacity. We must consider the intersectional impact that harmful policies have on our most vulnerable – including women and children escaping domestic violence, community members facing poverty, homelessness, and addiction.
“This crisis is more than just headlines. For many of us, it is personal. Our community members, friends, loved ones will experience the brunt of Ford’s heartless and unscientific policies.
Andrew’s full letter can be found here.
QUOTES
Dr. Siu Mee Cheng
Executive Director, Street Haven
“The closure of these life-saving resources is yet another blow for women seeking much-needed supports when it comes to addictions. Public health policies should be based on evidence, especially when lives are at stake.”
Rafi Aaron
Spokesperson, the Interfaith Coalition
Coordinator, The Out of the Cold Meal Program at St. Luke’s United Church
“Through love and compassion the staff at these sites provide a low-barrier, non-judgmental environment that allows them to build trust with their clients and shatter the stigma attached to drug-use. This is the first step in achieving healthy outcomes for people. The closure of safe-consumption sites will not enhance neighbourhood security. Instead, it will turn our communities into unsanctioned consumption sites leaving our streets, public spaces and alleyways filled with needles and dead bodies.”
Bill Sinclair
President & CEO, TNG Community Services
“Community organizations in Toronto-St. Paul’s are working together to support healthy and safe communities, and we want to be included as part of the solution. We know that supervised consumption sites, supportive housing, health care, and treatment are all part of a comprehensive plan. Our organization provides eleven licensed childcare centres, and one is close to a supervised consumption site that we also operate. We know these can be offered harmoniously and safely in the community.”
Hannah Weinstein
Harm Reduction Worker, Unison Health and Community Services
“We are in the middle of an opioid overdose epidemic. Countless people are dying every day, and we see this front and centre within our catchment area as a direct result of the toxic drug supply and a lack of a safe consumption site in the midtown area. If people who use drugs had access to a safe consumption site in our area, we would not only be able to prevent avoidable overdoses; but could also increase community safety for everyone involved. Addiction is not linear, and neither is treatment. People who use drugs face extreme levels of stigma in everything they do. Stigma and shame create more barriers. Safe consumption sites provide people who use drugs with a welcoming environment and can oftentimes be the first step a person makes towards treatment. Closing safe consumption sites is not the answer to the opioid overdose epidemic.”