The Official Publication of the Ontario Association of Chiefs of Police 9 Police services across Ontario have witnessed firsthand the devastating impacts of the toxic drug supply, rising overdose incidents and the increas- ingly complex needs of individuals living with substance use disorder. Frontline experience has reinforced a central truth: communities cannot arrest their way out of addiction. Sustainable progress requires police to continue addressing criminal activity, public disorder and threats to community safety, while working alongside health care, social service and community partners to support clear pathways to treatment, recovery and longer-term stability. COORDINATED RESPONSE Canada’s early response to the addiction crisis relied heavily on arrest and the justice system as tools of accountability and deterrence. While this traditional approach was intended to protect communities, it also contributed to stigma, marginaliz- ation and barriers to treatment. Many Ontarians struggling with addiction were drawn deeper into cycles of justice-system involvement, poverty and homelessness. There has been a gradual shift away from approaches that place criminality ahead of illness. The Controlled Drugs and Substances Act (CDSA) continues to provide police with enforcement authority in cases of simple posses- sion. At the same time, Section 10.2 of the CDSA requires peace officers to consider whether it would be prefer- able – instead of laying a charge – to take no further action, issue a warning or, with the individual’s consent, make a referral to a program or service provider. In practice, this has sup- ported greater emphasis on warnings, referrals and diversion when doing so, is appropriate and consistent with public safety. This shift reflects the adaptability of the police sector in working with communities, partners and stakehold- ers to support responses that are both pragmatic and compassionate. It also reflects a broader recognition that the criminal justice system is not equipped on its own to address the underlying health and social needs associated with addiction. However, reducing reliance on criminal charges alone does not create a continuum of care. Without accessible, evi- dence-based and effective treatment and recovery supports, individuals remain at high risk of harm, including overdose and death. TREATMENT-FOCUSED MODELS One of the most significant develop- ments in Ontario’s drug policy landscape is the province’s move away from provincially funded Supervised Consumption Services Sites toward a treatment-focused model through Homelessness and Addiction Recovery Treatment (HART) hubs. This shift reflects an important effort to move beyond short-term harm mitigation alone and toward a more balanced response that emphasizes treatment, recovery and community safety alongside immedi- ate risk reduction. The SAC supports the province’s direction in strengthening treat- ment-focused responses to substance use and addiction. Supervised Consumption Services Sites were introduced to reduce immediate harms, including overdose risk, but harm reduction on its own is neither a complete nor a sustainable response to addiction or its broader impacts. These services were never intended to function as standalone solutions, and in many communities they also generated concerns related to public disorder, open drug use, trafficking, exploitation and increased demands on emergency and policing resources. Expanding access to treatment, recovery services, mental health sup- ports and housing-based stabilization is essential. A system that prioritizes timely access to detoxification, treat- ment, stabilization and longer-term recovery supports offers greater potential for improved individual outcomes, reduced system strain and safer communities. The success of this transition will depend on effective implementation. Individuals who rely on existing ser- vices will continue to require support, and the shift to treatment-focused models must be matched by realistic, timely pathways to care. It must also be supported by clear account- ability, measurable outcomes and effective oversight so that capacity meets demand, communities see results and risk is not simply shifted elsewhere. IMPORTANCE OF ENFORCEMENT While public health measures are crucial, they should not exclude or diminish the role of police in address- ing the drug crisis where enforcement is necessary. Enforcement alone cannot solve the complex chal- lenges facing communities, but police continue to play an essential role in a balanced approach that distinguishes between vulnerable individuals in need of support and dangerous behaviour that threatens public safety. As SAC’s position has evolved, one principle has remained clear: a more holistic and health-informed response does not diminish the importance of enforcement. It sharpens its focus. Police services must continue to target organized crime groups, street gangs and traffickers who profit from the distribution of toxic illegal drugs and prey on vulnerable individuals, families and communities. There are also situations involving chaotic, dangerous and highly dis- ruptive substance-related behaviour where warnings, referrals and diversion are no longer effective, have been exhausted or are simply not appropriate. In these cases, police must retain the authority and confidence to intervene decisively to protect the individual, the public and frontline responders.
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