Moyo Solidarity Statement Regarding Provincial SCS Announcement

On August 20^th, 2024, Ontario Minister of Health announced a number of changes and restrictions to the current Safe Consumption Services (SCS) model in Ontario.  This includes the closure of a number of life-saving sites across the province along with preventing municipalities and organizations from establishing new CTS, participating in federal safe supply initiatives, and decriminalizing simple drug possession.  This announcement is in stark contrast to the report findings of the independent body that the province hired to review SCS’s in Ontario this past year as well as the recommendations from Ontario’s Chief Medical Officer of Health.  The announcement also goes against years of evidence gathered by a range of experts across different areas that show the need and effectiveness of SCS to prevent drug toxicity related deaths, reduce public drug use, prevent new cases of HIV and Hep C and how SCS helps to connect people to various other services including treatment, housing and mental health supports.  

As we all continue to grieve the thousands we have already lost to this preventable health crisis, we call on the Government to base their decisions on the best available evidence and not on ideology and opinion as this will inevitably result in a substantial increase in drug toxicity deaths, public drug use, and EMS calls.

Moyo Health and Community Services stands in solidarity with all those that will undoubtedly be affected by these decisions in Peel and across the province.  We urge that the Government follow the evidence and recommendations that they have already gathered.  Greater access to evidence-based treatment supports is needed; however, dead people cannot access treatment, or any other supports.  It is therefore imperative that SCS and other harm reduction supports are continued and expanded in combination with evidence-based treatment supports, as part of a comprehensive evidence-based approach to substance use.