Shutting down consumption and treatment services (CTS) across Canada is going to hit communities and people who use drugs (PWUD) hard. These places aren’t just about providing a safe spot to use—they’re literally keeping people alive every day. When they close, it’s going to lead to more overdose deaths, more diseases spreading, and fewer people finding the support they need to get their lives on track.
For starters, losing CTS means more people will die. The reality is that these sites save lives by offering a space where people can use drugs safely, knowing there’s someone there to help if they overdose. With the drug supply as toxic as it is now, especially with fentanyl and other dangerous substances, using alone is incredibly risky. Without access to CTS, more people are going to die because they’ll be forced to use in unsafe conditions, with no one around to administer naloxone or call for help when things go wrong. It’s especially scary for those who are already marginalized—like Indigenous folks, people who are homeless, or those struggling with mental health issues—because they’re the ones most likely to fall through the cracks.
Closing these services is also going to lead to more people getting sick. CTS don’t just give out clean needles; they also connect people to testing and treatment for diseases like HIV and hepatitis C. When those services disappear, people are going to be forced to share needles or use in dirty, unsafe environments. This will cause more outbreaks of preventable diseases, which is going to hurt not just people who use drugs but the healthcare system as a whole. Hospitals and clinics are going to see more cases of diseases that could’ve been stopped in the first place with proper harm reduction.
Another thing people forget is that CTS are often the first step for many people to get help beyond drug use. It’s one of the few places where people who use drugs feel safe enough to reach out for support, whether it’s addiction treatment, housing, or mental health services. Take those sites away, and a lot of people are going to lose that bridge to the services that could change their lives. Many of us don’t feel comfortable walking into a traditional healthcare setting because of the stigma we face, but CTS make it easier to connect with help.
And it’s not just about the people who use these services—it’s about the whole community. When these places close, you’ll start seeing more public drug use because people won’t have a safe place to go. That means more used needles left in parks and alleyways, and more overdoses happening in public spaces. It’s going to put more pressure on emergency services and hospitals, too. Communities will feel the impact, and unfortunately, the stigma and fear around drug use will only grow.
In the end, closing CTS will have a devastating ripple effect. More lives lost, more disease, and fewer opportunities for people to find the help they need. Harm reduction isn’t just about preventing overdoses; it’s about giving people the chance to survive and thrive. Taking these services away is a huge step backward, and the people who will pay the price are the ones already fighting to survive in a system that’s failed them time and time again.