The Ford government launched a review of safe consumption and overdose prevention sites this summer — putting the brakes on the opening of three overdose prevention sites in Ontario — and worrying advocates that the programs and services would be defunded and barred altogether. Life-saving overdose prevention sites risk being shut down amid an ongoing opioid crisis after Premier Doug Ford’s government introduced new rules that front line workers say create unnecessary barriers. But those rules create needless red tape and restrictions, say concerned workers and a Toronto city councillor, with peoples’ lives at stake. Health Minister Christine Elliott announced on Oct. 22 that the sites could continue operating under new guidelines. The requirements will be especially difficult to meet for the city’s four existing overdose prevention sites.

Source: thestar November 06, 2018 17:35 UTC