Ontario’s chief medical officer of health, Dr. Kieran Moore, is urging the provincial government to promptly implement regulations to limit access to alcohol, vapes, and cannabis, as the number of deaths and hospital visits related to the use of multiple substances has risen in recent years.
Dr. Kieran Moore also proposes that Ontario decriminalize the possession of unregulated drugs for personal use and make a safer supply available, aiming to prevent thousands of preventable opioid overdoses annually.
According to Moore's annual report, these measures, based on research, can immediately help prevent fatal overdoses and deter individuals, especially youth, from engaging in risky simultaneous use of multiple substances.
He highlights the tripling of opioid-related deaths among teens and young adults in Ontario from 2014 to 2021, as well as an increase in binge drinking, cannabis use, and vaping, which have not only harmed substance users but also had negative effects on families and communities.
A spokesperson for Ontario’s minister of health acknowledges Moore’s perspective.
However, Hannah Jensen points out that Moore’s recommendations to restrict legal substances while decriminalizing hard drugs overlook the unintended consequences seen in other places that have implemented similar measures, although she does not provide specific examples.
