Despite ‘massive shift’ towards smoking over injection, Ontario has only 1 supervised drug inhalation space
Advocates and researchers are sounding the alarm on Ontario’s lagging efforts to protect drug users who are opting to inhale opioids rather than inject them. Gillian Kolla, an assistant professor of medicine at Memorial University, highlighted the urgent need for support for individuals who smoke their drugs, emphasizing that the province has been slow to address this growing trend.
Data from the Ontario Office of the Chief Coroner revealed a significant shift in consumption methods among opioid users. While injection-related deaths have declined, fatal overdoses attributed to inhalation have risen sharply. Kolla’s research corroborates this trend, showing a nearly twofold increase in opioid toxicity deaths linked to inhalation between 2017 and 2021.
Joanne Simons, CEO of Casey House, which operates Ontario’s sole supervised inhalation booth, emphasized the critical role of harm reduction services in meeting the evolving needs of drug users. The hospital’s decision to establish the inhalation booth stemmed from client demand, with a substantial majority of individuals opting to inhale drugs over injection.
Despite the evident demand for safer inhalation options, Ontario’s 2019 consumption and treatment services plan failed to allocate funding for inhalation booths. With an estimated cost of $50,000 per booth, only healthcare facilities like Casey House that can secure private funding are able to offer this critical service.
Dr. Ahmed Bayoumi, from the MAP Centre for Urban Health Solutions, highlighted the potential health benefits of inhalation over injection, including reduced infection risks and potentially lower overdose rates. However, the lack of government support for safe inhalation sites remains a significant barrier to progress.
Advocates like Zoë Dodd, co-organizer of the Toronto Overdose Prevention Society, have long advocated for funding for safe inhalation sites. Despite ongoing calls for action, the government’s recent shift towards HART Hubs as part of addiction treatment services has raised concerns among harm reduction advocates.
As Ontario grapples with a rising number of opioid-related deaths, the need for comprehensive harm reduction strategies, including funding for supervised inhalation sites, is more pressing than ever. Advocates are urging policymakers to prioritize the health and safety of drug users by investing in evidence-based harm reduction initiatives that address the changing landscape of opioid consumption in the province.
