Services Provided by The Works

As of April 1, 2025, Toronto Public Health (TPH) programs & services will no longer be available at 277 Victoria Street. TPH will no longer offer supervised consumption services. TPH harm reduction services will be available through outreach teams. This webpage is being updated. Check back soon for more information.

Services for People Who Use Drugs

Toronto Public Health (TPH) provides programs and services to reduce drug-related harm for people who use drugs, including preventing the spread of communicable diseases.

In order to increase harm reduction access in Toronto, TPH provides safer drug use supplies, education and program support to many community agencies across the city.

The Works will close its services at 277 Victoria Street on April 1, 2025.  Toronto Public Health (TPH) will no longer offer supervised consumption services.

Supervised Consumption Services remaining open in Toronto:

  • Street Health (338 Dundas St. E.)
  • Fred Victor (139 Jarvis St.)
  • Parkdale Queen West Community Health Centre, (1229 Queen St. W.)

Drug Checking Collection Sites:

  • Parkdale Queen West Community Health Centre (1229 Queen St. W.)
  • Moss Park of South Riverdale Community Health Centre (134 Sherbourne St.)
  • Street Health (338 Dundas St. E.)

TPH Harm reduction services will be available through on-the-ground outreach teams.

Toronto Public Health Services Available After April 1, 2025:

We’re Here to Help: toronto.ca/substanceuse; 416-338-7600.

Drug Checking Service

image showing types of samples accepted by drug checking services: crushed bit of pill, blotter, small amount of powder, small amount of liquid, liquid from a syringe, used cooker, used filter

Have your drugs checked to find out what’s in them. Knowing what’s in the drugs you use is a harm reduction strategy that can help you make educated choices about your drug use. Please see information at Toronto’s Drug Checking Service. Samples are collected at The Works and these supervised consumption services:

Opioid Substitution Services

Injectable Opioid Agonist Treatment Program (iOAT Program)

Toronto Public Health offers an iOAT program for people at high risk of overdose. Our program includes injectable hydromorphone and sufentanil supported by a long acting oral medication (Kadian or Methadone).

For more information, please see the iOAT External Referral package.

If you are interested in starting your own iOAT program, please email iOATworks@toronto.ca.

Methadone Works – Opioid Substitution Clinic

TPH offers a harm reduction based opioid substitution program that includes methadone and suboxone. Services offered include counselling, support and referrals to housing and other community services.

This is a self-directed, client-centred program that does not require abstinence. Take-home doses are not permitted.

Naloxone Kits & Overdose Response Training (POINT Program)

The POINT program provides training to opioid users, their friends and family in preventing, recognizing and responding to an overdose. Program participants are trained on how to administer naloxone. Opioid users, their friends and family are provided with a take-home naloxone kit that contains naloxone and instructions on how to use it.

To schedule training for clients at your agency, see the Overdose Training & Resources page.

Nursing Services

TPH provides the following nursing services to people who use drugs:

Testing

  • HIV (anonymous and Rapid testing available)
  • Hepatitis A
  • Hepatitis B
  • Hepatitis C
  • Gonorrhea
  • Chlamydia
  • Syphilis

Free Vaccination

  • Hepatitis A
  • Hepatitis B
  • Tetanus
  • Diphtheria
  • Pertussis
  • Pneumococcal
  • Influenza

General Nursing Services

  • Wound care (e.g. injection-related abscesses)
  • Counselling
  • Pregnancy testing and supportive decision-making
  • Referrals to internal and external services

 

The Works, in partnership with community agencies, provides counselling and distribution of free harm reduction supplies:

Safer injection equipment

  • needles and syringes in various sizes and brands
  • sterile water
  • alcohol swabs
  • tourniquets
  • filters
  • acidifiers
  • cookers

Safer smoking equipment

  • Pyrex stems
  • brass screens
  • chopsticks
  • mouthpieces
  • safer crystal meth smoking equipment
  • glass bowl pipes

Safer sex products

  • condoms
  • lube

Mobile Outreach

Calls to request service are taken on our main line at 416-392-0520.

Services provided
  • harm reduction supplies distribution
  • safer drug use education
  • safer disposal of sharps education
  • naloxone training and distribution

Outreach activities include, but are not limited to:

  • connecting with people who use drugs
  • increasing awareness and use of the supervised injection services throughout Toronto
  • promoting good neighbour practices among people who use drugs, including safe disposal of drug use supplies
  • collecting discarded harm reduction supplies found while doing outreach
  • providing education to workers and staff at local businesses on safer needle handling and disposal practices
  • coordinating with other outreach activities happening in the community
  • liaising with other service providers, including Streets to Homes, mental health supports, and detox and drug treatment services
  • providing safer drug use education, including overdose prevention and response
  • providing safer drug use supplies and distribute naloxone
  • encouraging safer drug use supply disposal

If you are concerned about discarded drug-use supplies around your business or residence, please call 311 for assistance.

Toronto Public Health (TPH) works with people who use drugs, agencies who work with people who use drugs and others to share information about potentially toxic drugs in circulation locally that are causing reactions of concern.

Drug alerts are issued when TPH becomes aware of issues related to toxic drugs circulating in the community.

Toronto Public Health has issued the following drug alerts.

2024:

2023:

2022:

    TPH encourages anyone who has had an unexpected reaction to street drugs, or an overdose, to inform a harm reduction worker about it. Tips can also be made by email to drugstrategy@toronto.ca. Emails will be kept confidential, and the information will be used by staff at Toronto Public Health to inform harm reduction actions.