A supervised consumption and treatment (CTS) site in downtown Peterborough is set to close after the Ontario government announced it will end funding for several sites across the province.
The Simcoe Street facility, which opened in June 2022, served up to 320 people annually and performed an average of 18 life-saving interventions each month. Over 15,000 visits were recorded between January 2023 and August 2024, with 104 drug poisonings successfully managed-none fatal.
Lakelands Public Health reports that 28% of visits included support services such as housing, mental health care, and substance use treatment.
Fourcast, the operator, called the decision regrettable but expected, citing a shift toward recovery-focused strategies. The province has given organizations 90 days to transition users to other supports through local HART hubs.
MPP Dave Smith emphasized the need to redirect services toward sobriety pathways, pointing to existing detox, rehab, and outreach programs in the community.