Healthcare workers united for compassionate, evidence-based drug policy

1. Accessible, full-spectrum treatment, including harm reduction

Accessible, full-spectrum and evidence-based treatment should be available to everyone in Ontario. This includes public and accessible medical detox, residential treatment, and opioid agonist therapy (OAT) as well as harm reduction services such as supervised consumption services and prescribed safer supply programs. These programs need to be accessible to all people in Ontario, including people in hospitals, shelters, and prisons to ensure that people who use substances receive comprehensive, continuous, and equitable care regardless of their circumstances or location.

2. Public Health approaches

To strengthen the health and safety of Ontarians accessible harm reduction services should be available across the province including the distribution of sterile supplies and naloxone in hospitals, shelters, and prisons, as well as province-wide drug-checking services to help people make informed decisions and reduce the risks associated with substance use. In addition, hepatitis C programs should be enhanced and expanded to improve access to testing, treatment, and ongoing care, while outreach programs should be strengthened and expanded to connect people with essential health services, harm reduction resources, and community support.

3. Anti-poverty approach that eliminates criminalization and incarceration as solutions

An anti-poverty approach should prioritize addressing the root causes of poverty and substance use rather than relying on criminalization and incarceration as solutions. This includes drug decriminalization, rejecting forced treatment, increasing social assistance rates to ensure people can meet their basic needs, and recognizing housing as a fundamental right. It also means prioritizing civilian-led, community-based solutions over police-led responses, ensuring that people receive appropriate support and care in ways that uphold their dignity, autonomy, and human rights.

As well, we acknowledge that Canadian drug policy has been historically rooted in racism and colonialism and we are committed to advancing decolonization and anti-racism in our work by challenging oppressive systems and addressing the lasting impacts of discriminatory drug policies.

As healthcare workers, we are committed to advancing compassionate, equitable, and evidence-informed care that respects the dignity and autonomy of every person. We believe everyone has the right to bodily autonomy, personal choice, and access to a range of care and treatment options that reflect their individual needs and circumstances. We centre patients and communities in decisions about their health and healing, recognizing the expertise and leadership of people with lived experience. Our work is guided by peer-reviewed research, evidence-informed practice, and a range of quantitative and qualitative sources, including high-quality grey literature.

We believe healthcare is a public good and are committed to protecting and strengthening publicly funded healthcare systems. We advocate for investing in existing public institutions and services, ensuring resources are directed toward meeting community needs and preventing avoidable deaths and harms, both now and for future generations.

We acknowledge that substance use is shaped by broader social and structural factors, including poverty, housing insecurity, colonization, criminalization, mental health, trauma, and discrimination. We are committed to challenging the systemic inequities that contribute to harm, including addressing the ongoing impacts of colonialism and racial discrimination within drug policy and healthcare. We affirm the right of Indigenous communities to determine their own healthcare needs and set priorities.

We recognize that every community has unique needs and strengths, and that effective solutions must be shaped by the people most affected, united by our shared values. Through collaboration, accountability, and respect for lived experience, we strive to build a healthcare system that is accessible, responsive, and grounded in the needs and rights of the people and communities it serves.