More than 600 people and organizations from Ontario have signed the above pledge and linked arms to try and make it happen. They are calling on the provincial government to allow for needle distribution through new harm reduction centers known as HART Hubs. Public health advocates have long sounded the alarm about increasing rates of HIV and hepatitis C transmission. They predict that enforcing the existing prohibitions on needle distribution will have the opposite effect, exacerbating an already serious situation.
The World Health Organization (WHO) considers needle and syringe programs as an essential component of comprehensive responses to HIV and hepatitis C. These programs are vital to creating smart, effective prevention strategies. Ontario’s Substance Use Prevention and Harm Reduction Guideline was published by the Ontario Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care in 2018. It passionately calls for making needle and syringe kits available to stop the spread of disease.
In April, Ontario launched nine HART Hubs. These hubs are meant to prioritize treatment, recovery, and housing for everyone fighting substance use. Yet, these hubs took the place of already established, supervised consumption sites that had been placed near schools and daycares. Last year, the province adopted a law prohibiting any new supervised consumption sites within 200 metres of schools or daycares. This was a deeply alarming decision to public health advocates.
Health Risks Highlighted by Experts
The letter urges Ontario Health Minister Sylvia Jones and Chief Medical Officer of Health Dr. Kieran Moore to reverse their position. It shines a light on how prohibiting needle and syringe distribution at HART Hubs increases the risk of more people contracting HIV and hepatitis C.
Co-executive director of the HIV Legal Network, Sandra Ka Hon Chu, condemned the province’s action as a backward step.
“We have so much evidence about the impacts of these services. We have the Ontario government’s own guidance that says we should distribute these [needle and syringe kits] to prevent transmission of HIV and Hepatitis C, so the Ontario government, on one hand, is saying this, but on the other hand is saying we can’t do it at these HART Hubs, so I think there’s a bit of confusion,” – Sandra Ka Hon Chu
The consequences of these policies are devastating. Over 21,000 overdoses have been reversed at SCs in Ontario between March 2020 to January 2024. Critics argue that the decision to limit supervised consumption options near schools is equivalent to a “death sentence” for individuals who use substances.
Diverging Opinions on Harm Reduction
Despite advocates ramping up pressure, hoping to see syringe distribution come to HART Hubs, the Ontario government continues to do the about face. Ema Popovic, an administration spokesperson, reiterated their seriousness about ensuring clear paths to treatment. They don’t want to be in the business of helping people while facilitating drug use.
“Our government’s focus is on offering people struggling with mental health and addiction challenges a pathway to treatment, not giving them tools to use illicit drugs,” – Ema Popovic
Healthcare professionals have strongly condemned this position. They say giving people access to sterile supplies, like needles and syringes, is necessary to stop the spread of diseases. USC’s Nicola Bangham articulated the harsh truth that many live with in the absence of needle access.
“There’s so much research that shows that not providing supplies is not going to stop people from using substances. They’ll just use needles that have been used before,” – Nicola Bangham
Melody Alderton-Ballik was right to point out that 40 is a small number compared to the millions of Americans affected by these policies.
“I think 600 is only a small drop of rain in an ocean of people who know that this is good medicine, that this is supported by evidence, by science, by people who use drugs, by people who support people who use drugs,” – Melody Alderton-Ballik
The Future of Harm Reduction in Ontario
As this ideological battle rages on, many Ontarians are now asking what this means for the future of harm reduction strategies in our province. These consumption treatment services that transitioned into HART Hubs were formerly some of the biggest provincial distributors of needle and syringe programs. They were indispensable allies for efforts to advance public health principles. The ban on providing these basic necessities poses serious threats to public health.
Sheena Hering, the Executive Director of Breakaway Community Services, explained how limiting access to sterile needles can put people at risk.
“The consumption treatment services that have transitioned into HART Hubs were previously one of the biggest distributors of needle and syringe programs in the province, so prohibiting them from distributing the supplies would have huge implications for people who use drugs,” – Executive Director of Breakaway Community Services
As many health advocates and community leaders have been advocating for. Despite this support, the Ontario government has still not responded positively to calls for it to rethink its policy prohibiting needle distribution at HART Hubs.
