Declaring the Drug Toxicity Crisis an Epidemic

These alarming figures are the combined result of an unregulated toxic drug supply and the forced closure of nearly all of the safe consumption sites in Toronto. The remaining supervised consumption sites have experienced a radical increase in the number of clients trying to access their services. With each site only being able to provide a handful of supervised use booths, many people who use drugs have instead been using at other venues where they hope they could be found in the case of an overdose. These locations include shelters, drop-in centres, community health centres, public libraries, the sidewalks outside of these spaces, and public parks. In my capacity as Chair of the Our Health, Our City Implementation Panel under the Board of Health, I have heard from frontline workers who are experiencing extreme burnout as they respond to several overdoses every day. Responding to these events, in addition to being both emotionally and physically taxing, takes community service workers away from their core job responsibilities. The serious harm that has already been inflicted both on people who use drugs and the people who support them over the past year and a half is the result of the Provincial enactment of the Community Care and Recovery Act. When you consider the increased burden on our emergency services, the scope of the harm only grows. The data we have been dutifully collecting and monitoring at the City clearly shows that this is a crisis. This issue is urgent because indicators are showing that the prevalence of suspected non-fatal overdoses is significantly higher this year compared to 2025. The lives and wellbeing of people who use drugs and frontline workers are at stake. Immediate action is required to prevent further harm.

Recognizing staff burnout at remaining Supervised Consumption Service sites, shelters, and drop-in centres and supporting as appropriate; b. Coordinating City services and anti-stigma communication campaigns to increase community safety for all community members, including people who use substances, in residential, educational, and commercial areas; c. expand access to overdose response in priority locations through support to impacted service providers and increased access to overdose response tools, including naloxone, overdose detection technology and training in basic life support, first aid care and airway management; d. expand access to low-barrier testing for HIV and Hepatitis C; e. advocate for drug checking services to remain available across the city; and f. engage with key community organizations and people who use drugs through the Our Health Our City, Supervised Consumption Site Closures working group. 3. Board of Health request the Province to fund a healthcare focused response to the drug toxicity epidemic in Toronto through increased funding for: a. A broader range and increased availability of evidence-based opioid use disorder treatment options, withdrawal management services, and ongoing stabilization supports; b. Low-barrier community-based health care supports for those who are underhoused (e.g., increased community paramedicine, health-care providers at drop-ins); and c. Additional street outreach and drop-in staff supporting increased needs in the community stemming from the sudden closure of supervised consumption services. 4. The Board of Health request the Clerk to forward the Board's decision to the Association of Municipalities of Ontario (AMO), Federation of Canadian Municipalities (FCM), and Ontario's Big City Mayors (OBCM).