Ontario's Evolving Drug Policy: Where public health meets safetyBy Chief Tim Farquharson, Port Hope Police Service; Deputy Chief Natalie Hiltz, Greater Sudbury Police Service; and Superintendent Ahmad Salhia, York Regional PoliceOntario's approach to substance use and addiction is undergoing significant change. At the centre of this shift is a growing recognition that substance use disorder is not solely a criminal justice issue, but also a health and social issue with direct implications for public safety and community well-being.The trajectory of the OACP Substance Advisory Committee’s (SAC) position reflects this reality. It points to the need for evidence-informed, coordinated responses that balance enforcement, prevention, treatment, recovery and harm reduction within a broader continuum of care.Police services across Ontario have witnessed firsthand the devastating impacts of the toxic drug supply, rising overdose incidents and the increasingly 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, marginalization 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 possession. At the same time, Section 10.2 of the CDSA requires peace officers to consider whether it would be preferable – 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 supported 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 stakeholders 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, evidence-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 developments 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 immediate 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, treatment, 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 services 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 accountability, 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 addressing the drug crisis where enforcement is necessary. Enforcement alone cannot solve the complex challenges 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 disruptive 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.A balanced system must therefore be capable of doing both: connecting people to care wherever possible, while also responding firmly to criminality, exploitation and conduct that threatens community safety. Recognizing the importance of treatment and recovery should not come at the expense of public safety and clear, consistent enforcement where it is required.THE PATH FORWARD Policing has changed and increasingly relies on discretion, collaboration and partnership, with officers using warnings, referrals, diversion and enforcement according to the circumstances presented. Wherever appropriate, individuals should be connected to treatment, recovery and social supports rather than drawn deeper into cycles of justice-system involvement.As Ontario’s drug policy landscape evolves, the test will be whether or not policy changes translate into timely access to care, stronger coordination across sectors and safer communities. Police services remain a critical part of that response. Officers are often the first point of contact for individuals experiencing overdose, mental health crises or acute substance-related harms, placing policing at the intersection of enforcement, crisis response and access to care.For Ontario’s evolving drug policy framework to succeed, treatment-focused models must be matched by real system capacity. Access to detoxification, stabilization, treatment, mental health care, supportive housing and recovery services must be timely, coordinated and available when people are ready to accept help – and the right service at the right time. Cross-sector partnerships between police, health care, community agencies and social services will remain essential to building clear and effective pathways to care.Substance use disorder affects not only individual health, but the safety and well-being of families, neighbourhoods, businesses and frontline emergency services across Ontario. A balanced approach – one that expands treatment and recovery, maintains appropriate harm reduc- tion measures and preserves a strong focus on public safety – offers the best opportunity to reduce harm, restore stability and improve outcomes for both individuals and communities.OACP SUBSTANCE ADVISORY COMMITTEE Chief Tim Farquharson, after over 25 years with the Peterborough Police Service, became the Port Hope Police Service Chief of Police in 2023. Farquharson is the first Vice President of the OACP and a Committee Pillar Lead for the Police Operations Pillar of the OACP. He is also a member of the Canadian Association of Chiefs of Police Drug Advisory Committee. Farquharson is an active member of many agencies dealing with mental health and addictions and has presented as an expert at several national and international events.Deputy Chief Natalie Hiltz is in her 31st year of policing, currently overseeing operations for the Greater Sudbury Police Service. Hiltz serves as co-chair of the OACP’s Substance Advisory Committee and is known for her community-centred, progressive approach to leadership. She is a strong advocate for Community Safety and Well‑Being, as well as evidence‑based policing initiatives.Superintendent Ahmad Salhia has over 20 years of service with the York Regional Police and has amassed experience in a variety of frontline, investigative, intelligence and leadership roles. Salhia serves as vice chair of the Board of Addiction Services of Central Ontario and is also co-chair of the OACP Substance Advisory Committee. He currently oversees Marketing Communications and Brand, Strategic Services, Quality Assurance and Business Intelligence and Data Analytics.