Item - 2021.HL32.4

The Board of Health:

1.  Referred the Item to the Medical Officer of Health, with a request that they consult with relevant City of Toronto divisions and agencies, people with lived experience of substance use and residents and prepare an action plan to tackle the drug poisoning crisis across the City of Toronto and in the Eglinton Avenue West area; such action plan to consider the following as urgent priorities:

a.  a comprehensive and coordinated public health strategy that includes action from all three levels of government in order to provide enhanced prevention, harm reduction and medical support and interventions to address the drug poisoning crisis;

b.  providing data to support advocacy to the Ontario Ministry of Health and Ontario Health for the deployment of a Community Safety Team, based on the model currently being used at the temporary hotel shelters, in the Eglinton Avenue West area and other areas where the drug poisoning crisis appears to be impacting individuals and the local community;

c.  providing data to support advocacy to the Ontario Ministry of Health and Ontario Health for the establishment of additional treatment services in the City of Toronto, such as a permanent, storefront health clinic in the Eglinton Avenue West area, to provide urgently needed medical intervention and supports to people with substance use disorders; and

d.  expanded outreach to the Federal and Provincial Governments to secure additional resources for programs in support of the City of Toronto's efforts to address the drug poisoning crisis.

The Board of Health considered Items HL32.3 and HL32.4 together.

The Medical Officer of Health gave a presentation on Actions to Respond to the Drug Poisoning Crisis in Toronto.

City Council on November 9, 10 and 12, 2021, referred Motion MM37.4 to the Board of Health.

Summary from Motion MM37.4 by Councillor Mike Colle, seconded by Councillor Josh Matlow:

There is a growing opioid/fentanyl substance abuse crisis in communities within the Eglinton Avenue West area. This crisis is having devastating impacts on victims of opioid/fentanyl abuse and a coordinated, comprehensive, multi-partner public health response is required to help victims of substance abuse, and address the impact that this crisis is also having on the local residential and retail areas along Eglinton Avenue West.

There is a real and immediate need for medical intervention and support to help victims of opioid abuse.

Efforts to address this crisis have been ongoing by Toronto Public Health, community organizations, local residents, along with the local police at 13 Division, but these efforts need to be reinforced by additional agencies and resources in a comprehensive and coordinated way.