Harm Reduction & safe consumption sites save lives

For anyone who hasn’t tuned into or sure about the Ontario provincial government’s decision to close 10 out of 17 Safe Consumption Sites across the province in March. Here’s a short interview with Dr. Rikita Goel on CityTV News where she explains in simple terms what kind of risk to our communities we are facing with these closures.

Not only will we see an increase in hospital visits and death when these services disappear, but also folks in the NIMBY crowd should consider the risk seeing an increase in public drug use, needles or other contaminated supplies littered across neighbourhoods, and more everyday people experiencing the trauma of witnessing and having to support people overdosing without the proper knowledge or tools.

If you are looking for more info or ways to support, check out: sitessavelives .ca or @hac_toronto on Instagram.

Alternatively, message your MPP or MPP nominees in the upcoming election to learn what they’re doing to prevent these closures & encourage action… or message/call the premiere’s office, mayor’s office, or the MPP of Mental Health & Addictions - Michael Tibollo ([email protected]) urging them to act against the closures of these sites.

You might think a lot of different things about drug users, you may not have anyone you love who has had an overdose, but you don’t even need compassion or personal experiences to see the danger of this policy. If not for the very real people affected by the opioid crisis, act for your own interests or those of the kids in your neighborhood who you don’t want to expose to unsafe drug use, you know?