The closure of 10 supervised consumption sites across Ontario raises important questions about community safety and public health. While the stated goal is to make communities safer, research suggests that removing these sites may have the opposite effect.

Supervised consumption sites provide a safer, more hygienic alternative to using drugs in public spaces, reducing risks associated with unsafe injecting practices and fatal overdoses. Without these supports, public drug use is likely to increase, placing additional strain on first responders and emergency health care systems.

Effective community safety extends beyond enforcement. Modern policing involves collaboration with community organizations, social services and public health institutions to address complex social challenges in a way that prioritizes well-being alongside public order, and that starts with educating future leaders in this space.

At Trent University Durham GTA, students in the policing and community well-being (PLCW) program explore the benefits of harm reduction and strategies to support individuals facing substance use challenges. This one-of-a-kind undergraduate program equips students with the knowledge, leadership skills and collaborative expertise needed to address crime, social disorder and other pressing community concerns.

In the social determinants of health and crime course, students learn about how factors such as income, employment, race and gender shape both individual health outcomes and the likelihood of involvement in crime — whether as a perpetrator or a victim. Many social determinants are directly associated with substance use and addiction, so students examine how strengthening social and economic conditions, such as access to affordable and stable housing, employment and health care, can lead to more sustainable, long-term solutions than punitive approaches.

PLCW students engage in hands-on learning by working alongside faculty and community stakeholders, conducting research and developing solutions to pressing community safety and well-being issues. Recognizing that no single institution can tackle these issues on their own, students learn the importance of collaborative approaches between police, health care and social services to effectively address the real-world challenges presented by drug use and addiction.

The closure of supervised consumption sites presents a critical challenge to evidence-based community safety strategies.

Research overwhelmingly shows that harm reduction saves lives, yet policy decisions lag behind data. As the landscape of public health and policing shifts, there is a growing need for professionals who can bridge these gaps.

The policing and community well-being program at Trent University Durham GTA is training future generations of skilled and knowledgeable professionals who understand that community safety is not about enforcement alone, but about proactive, research-driven solutions.

Without policies that reflect these realities, it is likely communities will continue to grapple with preventable crises, and the burden will only grow heavier for front-line responders.

This article, penned by Trent Durham GTA professor, Dr. Nick Cristiano, originally appeared in Durham Metroland.