Peer support specialist Joshua Orson poses in a room at Unity Health’s new Withdrawal Management Services site in Toronto on Tuesday, Oct. 29, 2024.
The new 36-bed downtown centre is 1 of 4 operated by Unity Health Toronto, and is part of the province's shift to an abstinence-based approach to the toxic drug crisis. Joshua Orson sits on the edge of a bed in a bright, clean room, thinking about his journey from addict to health-care worker.
It is a vastly different space from its previous iteration, where Orson got clean — a dorm-style room inside a homeless shelter without private beds. It sat in an ancient building with an old heating system and poor ventilation. But spots open up frequently as the program is designed for short-term residential stays, he said, and day programs are also available.Unity also operates two other withdrawal centres in the city with 51 beds. They are also full.Illicit fentanyl emerged in Ontario about a decade ago as the opioid crisis spread slowly eastward from British Columbia. Opioid overdose deaths spiked soon after.
The province will instead launch 19 new "homelessness and addiction recovery treatment" — or HART — hubs, plus 375 highly supportive housing units at a planned cost of $378 million.Through gangs and organized crime, opioids have found their way into virtually every nook and cranny in Ontario, from big cities such as Toronto and Ottawa to remote, fly-in First Nations in the north and everything in between.
Patients can return for the day program to help maintain their recovery. The benefits of the new space aren't just limited to patients, Dhalla said.'What people really need is hope'
Canada Latest News, Canada Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Gorgeous Toronto condo on sale for $4.2 million is actually inside of an old mansionThe last time this unique Toronto condo unit at 37A Elm Ave. sold was back in 2013, and even then, it went for a staggering $2,280,000. Now, the thre…
Read more »
2 women, 1 man arrested after fatal stabbing inside Toronto apartment buildingToronto police say three people -- two women and a man -- have been arrested following a fatal stabbing in a Toronto apartment building Thursday morning.
Read more »
A look inside Toronto police’s Taylor Swift concert command centreToronto police have given CP24 a look inside their command centre, showing how they plan to manage big crowds and respond to service calls during the concerts.
Read more »
A look inside Toronto police's Taylor Swift concert command centreToronto police have given CP24 a look inside their command centre, showing how they plan to manage big crowds and respond to service calls during the concerts.
Read more »
A look inside a 'Sprung Structure' in TorontoThis is one of three Sprung Structures used in Toronto as 24-hour respite centres for those experiencing homelessness.
Read more »
'It's an optimistic space:' Inside Toronto's new drug withdrawal centreTORONTO — Joshua Orson sits on the edge of a bed in a bright, clean room, thinking about his journey from addict to health-care worker.
Read more »