In heartening news for public health advocates and communities grappling with the opioid crisis, researchers at McGill University have delivered solid evidence that supervised consumption and overdose prevention sites can coexist peacefully with neighborhood safety.

The comprehensive study, published in JAMA Network Open, examined a decade of crime data surrounding nine Toronto sites that opened beginning in 2017. The results? Crime reports either remained stable or actually declined in these neighborhoods—a finding that brings hope to communities seeking compassionate solutions to the ongoing public health emergency.

"We wanted to find out whether the data supported the safety concerns people have expressed," explained Dr. Dimitra Panagiotoglou, an associate professor at McGill and Canada Research Chair in the Economics of Harm Reduction. What her team discovered offers reassurance to worried residents and policymakers alike.

The research team meticulously tracked crime reports within 400 meters of each site, examining everything from assaults and robberies to bicycle theft and auto theft. The results tell an encouraging story: over time, reports of robberies, thefts over $5,000, bicycle thefts, and thefts from motor vehicles all declined across the sites studied.

While some areas experienced a brief uptick in break-ins when sites first opened, even these reports eventually decreased. Assaults and auto thefts showed no consistent pattern of increase—further evidence that fears about rising crime were unfounded.

What makes these findings particularly promising is that they align with positive results from other cities that have implemented similar harm reduction services. The decline in crime rates, while somewhat unexpected, suggests these sites may actually contribute to neighborhood improvement over time.

Several factors may explain the positive trends. Police may have increased patrols when sites first opened, providing an added layer of community safety. Additionally, in 2019, Toronto police launched a progressive mental health and addictions initiative designed to better support people in crisis—a compassionate approach that appears to be working.

Dr. Panagiotoglou emphasizes that these findings come at a crucial time. "We need both realism and compassion," she noted, highlighting that the opioid crisis reflects deeper challenges like housing instability, employment barriers, and the dangers of the toxic drug supply.

Rather than viewing harm reduction sites as problems, this research invites communities to see them as part of the solution—evidence-based services that save lives without compromising neighborhood safety.

The study's rigorous methodology, examining over a decade of Toronto Police Service data from 2014 to 2025, provides solid ground for optimism. These aren't just numbers—they represent real neighborhoods where people can feel safe while their most vulnerable neighbors receive life-saving support.

As Canada continues to address the opioid crisis nearly ten years after declaring it a public health emergency, this research offers a path forward rooted in both data and humanity. It demonstrates that communities don't have to choose between compassion and safety—they can, and do, have both.

The findings provide evidence for thoughtful, nuanced conversations about what's working in public health responses. By understanding the facts, communities can make informed decisions that protect everyone's wellbeing while extending a helping hand to those who need it most.