Advocates in Thunder Bay say the Ontario government’s move to close a number of safe consumption sites (SCS) will be detrimental to people living with addictions.

Health Minister Sylvia Jones announced Tuesday the province is banning the sites within 200 metres of schools and child-care centres, meaning 10 locations in the province, including Path 525 in Thunder Bay, must shut down by March 31, 2025.

Path 525, which is operated by NorWest Community Health Centres (NWCHC), is on the city’s south side, around the corner from Ogden Community Public School.

Opened in 2018, the service’s clients can bring in drugs from the street to use in the presence of a registered nurse, who can help them if they overdose.

  • joshhsoj1902@lemmy.ca
    link
    fedilink
    arrow-up
    7
    ·
    3 months ago

    What part of this change changes that? These locations are setup so that they are close to the people who need them, shutting down the locations doesn’t stop the usage, it just pushes it to happen in less safe spaces

    • systemglitch@lemmy.world
      link
      fedilink
      arrow-up
      1
      arrow-down
      5
      ·
      edit-2
      3 months ago

      They go where the sites are set up. Every time. I watch it in my city each time it is moved.

      No need to be near a school.

      • jerkface@lemmy.ca
        link
        fedilink
        English
        arrow-up
        4
        ·
        edit-2
        3 months ago

        Oh, you WATCH it. I’m sure you know better, then. Best not expose yourself to more rigorous evidence that might change your mind, because I think you like your mind where it is and would try to keep it there.