Question Period Note: Supervised Consumption Sites

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KEY MESSAGES
· Supervised consumption sites provide lifesaving medical services to people who use drugs. SCS are a pathway to connect people to health and social supports, including counselling, treatment and housing.
· When well-managed and well-integrated into communities, these sites help reduce public drug use and ease the strain on emergency services.
· We will work with provinces, municipalities and Indigenous communities to help keep communities safe while also providing access to lifesaving medical services.
IF PRESSED …

Q1 : If pressed on provincial (Ontario, QC, AB) legislation….

A1 :
· As supervised consumption sites are a health care service, provinces, territories and municipalities have an important role in ensuring the effective operation of SCS, including through legislation, regulations, policies, and investments.
· Decades of evidence show that supervised consumption sites save lives and can positively impact the surrounding community. Supervised consumption sites are an important and necessary part of a comprehensive approach to the overdose crisis.
· The Government of Canada will continue to work closely with provinces and territories to support the full range of services needed to protect public health and public safety.

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• Since 2017, the number of supervised consumption sites (SCS) in Canada has increased from 2 to a peak of 40, with 30 currently in operation. As of November 2024, SCS have:
- Been visited more than 5.1 million times
- Responded to over 62,000 overdoses
- Made over 582,000 referrals to health and social services