Statement of Solidarity with People Who Use Drugs 

We stand in solidarity with People Who Use Drugs, recognizing the war on people who use drugs as a racist, colonial, and carceral assault on Black, Indigenous, People of Color, and those living in poverty. These communities are disproportionately targeted, yet they continue to lead the fight to end this unjust war. The Toxic Drug Crisis in Canada has claimed over 30,000 lives, causing profound grief that is intensified by stigma. The closure of supervised consumption sites will worsen the crisis, leading to more drug poisoning deaths, increased HIV and HCV transmission, and fewer opportunities to provide life-saving care.

The current overdose death rate now exceeds that of the AIDS crisis, and in Ontario, over 2,600 opioid-related deaths occurred last year, with one person dying every 2.5 hours. Supervised consumption sites have reversed nearly 21,000 overdoses without a single fatality onsite. Their closure endangers countless lives. We also highlight the connection between drug policy reform and reconciliation and decolonization. Now, more than ever, we must come together, resist cuts, and support our communities.