On June 12, the day before Ontario closed its last supervised consumption sites, journalist Bruce Deachman visited Ottawa's two remaining locations—The Trailer at Shepherds of Good Hope and the Sandy Hill Community Health Centre. He spoke with people who used these services to understand their fears about the closures. Most expressed that more people would use alone, leading to increased overdoses and deaths.
Meeting Amber and Ashley
Among those Deachman met were Amber Turner, a 39-year-old who smokes crack, and Ashley Smith, a 35-year-old who used fentanyl and Dilaudid daily at The Trailer. Both agreed to be photographed and interviewed. Reviewing the photos later, Deachman saw not drug users but an eight-year-old girl in each—a look of possibility before trauma narrowed their lives.
Childhood Stories
Returning to Shepherds of Good Hope the following Monday, Deachman found both women. Ashley declined to discuss her childhood, saying, "It wasn't good then, either." She revealed she was abused from age four to eight and then entered foster care. Amber, however, described a different upbringing in Brockville, attending private school, playing piano and violin, and enjoying rock and rap music. Her favourite colour is purple, and she had a collie named Scooby. She recalled friction with her mother, noting, "We were too much alike."
Impact of Site Closures
The closure of supervised consumption sites in Ontario, mandated by the provincial government, has left many without a safe space to use injectable drugs. Deachman's interviews highlight the human stories behind addiction, emphasizing that those affected are individuals with pasts and hopes, not just statistics.
