Barnett: How the '500-metre' myth is holding back better drug policy

In 2024, more than 2,150 Ontarians died from opioid-related overdoses, a devastating figure that underscores the urgent need for effective policies. This crisis has intensified just as the Ontario government embarks on a significant policy shift, closing nine provincially funded supervised consumption sites (where people can use drugs under the care of trained staff) and replacing them with Homelessness and Addiction Recovery Treatment Hubs or HART Hubs (facilities that offer housing, treatment and mental health support, but exclude all harm reduction services, including needle exchange and drug-checking services). Read More