Opioid Overdose Calls Rise in Ontario Cities

Opioid overdose calls to paramedics have nearly tripled in Hamilton.

Opioid overdose calls have risen sharply in four Ontario cities.

In 2026, calls for opioid poisonings increased by 20% in Thunder Bay and 199% in Hamilton. Toronto saw a 115% rise in non-fatal opioid overdose calls.

The data does not show what is causing the increase, but researchers think the toxic drug supply and closed supervised consumption sites may be factors.

Gillian Kolla is a researcher who studies the effects of Ontario's drug policy.

Kolla says Ontario is experiencing a drug toxicity crisis with new, poisonous substances entering the supply.

Kolla says it's like playing a game of whack-a-mole.

The Ontario government has closed supervised consumption sites and is investing in abstinence-based treatment hubs.

Ontario used to have 17 supervised consumption sites where people could use drugs while being monitored by health professionals.

A bill passed in 2024 closed 10 sites near schools or daycares and banned new facilities from opening.

The province ended funding for the remaining sites in March 2026, and the last ones closed in Toronto last month.

Most former supervised consumption sites are now operating as HART Hubs, which offer treatment and recovery services.

Moss Park drug consumption sites closed due to lack of funding.

Matt Johnson, a harm reduction worker, says EMS calls go up when sites shut down.

Johnson says the sites connect people to healthcare in a non-judgmental way.

Research shows supervised sites save lives, lead people to treatment, and decrease HIV transmission.

Bill Sinclair, CEO of Neighbourhood Group Community Services, says people are making smart decisions by using substances in public.

People are using substances in public places to get help in case of an overdose.

After the 2025 SCS closures, Ontario saw a 69.5% increase in EMS calls and a 67% rise in emergency department use for opioid-related overdoses.

Medora Uppal, CEO of YWCA Hamilton, says the toxic drug supply and fewer harm reduction services are a dangerous combination.

The province's new HART Hub model may not be effective because people are less likely to access services if they think they will be forced into treatment.

The province has seen a big drop in opioid-related death rates, but northern Ontario still has high numbers.

Uppal says the HART Hub model can worsen trauma and shame for people who are actively using drugs.

In Thunder Bay, the city's only SCS closed in March 2025 and transitioned into a HART Hub.

Vanessa Tookenay, a social worker, says the former consumption site was a safe place for clients, offering connection, support, and monitoring.

Tookenay, who is in recovery, says the site saved her life.

Tookenay says giving people a safe space to use drugs can help them change their behavior.

Tookenay is grateful for the site and is now helping others.

Between 2020 and 2024, Ontario's supervised consumption facilities reversed 22,000 overdoses.

Kolla says we need both treatment and harm reduction to support people with substance use issues.

Kolla says we should not frame drug policy as a magic bullet.

A community drug alert was issued for Waterloo region after 44 suspected overdoses and 1 death.

An alert was issued after 6 drug-related deaths in Windsor-Essex in 7 days.

The Ontario government says it is helping people break the cycle of drug addiction.

The government is investing $560 million to build 29 HART Hubs, replacing supervised consumption sites.

Since the first Hubs opened, the Office of the Chief Coroner has shown a 41% decrease in opioid-related deaths.

COPYRIGHT DISCLAIMERS

4English does not own the rights to this content. All rights belong to the owner. 4English only uses this content to help users learn English via the app's features. Contact to request the removal of your content: contact@4englishapp.com.

Practice Listening