HART Hubs: Early Data Show Fewer Overdose Deaths and Emergency Calls in Ontario

Ontario’s new Homelessness and Addiction Recovery Treatment (HART) Hubs are showing promising early results, with newly released provincial data indicating declines in both suspected drug-related deaths and overdose-related 911 calls since the transition from supervised consumption sites began.

Facts

Early evidence indicates that, in the months following the transition to HART Hubs, Ontario has seen:

• 11% fewer suspected drug-related deaths compared to the previous quarter.

• 41% fewer suspected drug-related deaths compared to the same quarter in 2024.

• A marked decline in Toronto’s overdose-related 911 calls, including nearly half the non-fatal overdose calls in June 2025 compared to June 2024.

While these results do not prove direct causation, they demonstrate that the shift to HART Hubs has not led to the province-wide spike in deaths and emergency calls that some predicted.

What are HART Hubs?

Launched in April 2025, HART Hubs provide integrated access to addiction treatment, mental health care, primary health services, case management, and supportive housing. The province plans to expand the network to 27 hubs across Ontario, each receiving multi-year provincial funding (Ontario Newsroom).

Unlike supervised consumption sites, HART Hubs do not include supervised drug use spaces, but instead focus on connecting people with immediate treatment options, housing supports, and other wrap-around services.

Key Outcomes Since the Transition

• Fewer suspected drug-related deaths province-wide – According to the Office of the Chief Coroner, Ontario recorded 609 suspected drug-related deaths between April and June 2025, an 11% decrease compared to the previous three months and a 41% decrease compared to the same period in 2024 (CityNews Toronto).

• Fewer overdose-related 911 calls in Toronto – Toronto Paramedic Services reports a “general decline” in overdose-related calls since May 2024. In June 2025, paramedics responded to 181 non-fatal overdoses, compared with 354 in June 2024 (CityNews Toronto).

These official numbers contrast with some local reports claiming widespread increases in overdoses and emergency responses following supervised consumption site closures.

Context Matters

While certain drop-in centres and outreach groups have reported localized spikes in overdoses among their clients, these observations measure specific high-risk environments and do not represent city-wide or province-wide trends. The provincial coroner’s data and paramedic statistics are broader in scope, capturing total deaths and emergency calls across all settings.

Program Expansion Underway

Municipal approvals for new hubs continue across Ontario. Toronto’s downtown HART Hub has received approval in principle with full provincial funding, and Niagara’s hub is set to open later in 2025 (Gateway of Niagara).