August 20, 2024
CAMH welcomes the government’s investment today in housing and addiction treatment hubs. We hope this investment will be used to improve access to treatment and implement novel approaches that meet people where they are. However, we are concerned to see the closure of several supervised consumption sites. Supervised consumption and needle exchange programs are essential healthcare services. They are evidence-based and life-saving interventions, known to reduce the incidence of fatal overdoses, help reduce the transmission of HIV, hepatitis C, and other blood-borne infections, and increase referrals to treatment. They are a necessary part of a comprehensive response to the drug toxicity crisis. The loss of supervised consumption sites and needle exchange programs will cause harm to people and communities across the province and put pressure on other parts of the health care system, including already busy emergency departments and emergency medical services. We hope the Ontario government will maintain these services as a part of its new hub model.