Ontario ditches ‘failed experiment’ of drug shooting galleries

The Canadian Province of Ontario has announced that it is closing all of its drug consumption rooms in acknowledgement of the “failed experiment”.

Posting on X, Premier of Ontario Doug Ford explained: “Drug injection sites are a failed experiment that make communities unsafe and trap vulnerable people in addiction. Instead of standing by as addictions get worse, we’re funding treatment and lasting recovery while keeping our communities safe.”

The last drug consumption room is expected to be closed by July, after nine were shut down last year. The decision follows previous legislation that banned such sites within 200 metres of schools and prohibited public consumption of illegal drugs.

‘Break addiction cycle’

In a press release, the Ontario Government noted public safety concerns over drug consumption rooms and emphasised that it will be focusing on Homelessness and Addiction Recovery Treatment (HART) hubs to “fund treatment and lasting recovery from addiction”.

Minister of Health Sylvia Jones explained: “Through our almost $550 million investment to establish HART Hubs across the province, we are ensuring people struggling with addiction can access the care and supports they need to break the tragic cycle of addiction and rebuild their lives while protecting Ontario communities.”

In January, Premier of British Columbia David Eby announced that Canada’s pilot scheme to decriminalise drugs “didn’t work” and would not be renewed.

The three-year pilot scheme, which started in British Columbia in 2023, legalised small quantities of drugs in the hypothesis that it would better enable people to seek treatment without the concern of criminal sanction. But data showed that the policy resulted in more drug overdoses, and an increase of prescription drugs being trafficked.

Scotland

In Scotland, the Government has pledged ‘not to delay’ in opening more shooting galleries, as well as exploring other ‘harm reduction’ measures — such as distributing crack cocaine pipes to users for “safer inhalation”.

The outcome of a consultation on proposals to open one in Edinburgh, potentially around Spittal Street and Cowgate, is expected to be submitted to the Scottish Government as part of a business proposal. But in addition to city councillors’ approval of the plans, a safer drug consumption facility would not be able to open without the Lord Advocate’s declaring the facility to be a ‘prosecution-free zone’.

In Glasgow, The Thistle shooting gallery has been used by 599 registered users with “over 8,300 injecting episodes” in its first full year of operation up to January 2026. The shooting gallery’s three-year pilot project is being funded by the Scottish Government at a cost of £2.3 million per annum to the taxpayer.