The POINT program offers hope and life-saving tools in the fight against opioid overdoses.

Toronto Public Health

The opioid crisis continues to be a pressing public health issue in Canada, with Downtown East Toronto being significantly impacted. A key tool in combating the increasing number of opioid-related deaths is naloxone, a life-saving medication that temporarily reverses the effects of opioid overdose.

Naloxone works by targeting opioids—including heroin, fentanyl, oxycodone, and others—and halting their impact on the brain. It can cause withdrawal symptoms but remains an essential tool in emergency overdose response. The medication begins working within two to five minutes and lasts up to two hours in the body. It is available in both injectable and nasal spray forms.

Toronto Public Health’s POINT Program

To help opioid users, their friends, and family members respond effectively to overdoses, Toronto Public Health offers the Preventing Opioid Overdose in Toronto (POINT) program. POINT, delivered through The Works, provides naloxone training in less than 20 minutes. Upon completing the free training, participants receive a kit containing two doses of naloxone and the necessary supplies for administration. Training is available at The Works (277 Victoria Street, near Yonge and Dundas) during weekdays and evenings in the outreach van.

While individuals can access training and kits through The Works, staff at community organizations can only receive training, not kits. Naloxone kits can also be purchased at many pharmacies. In addition to in-person sessions, The Works offers online training modules and live webinars. These resources cover overdose prevention, recognition, and response, providing comprehensive education. A downloadable overdose training module in PDF format is also available.

The Works provides naloxone training in less than 20 minutes.

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The Works

Established in 1989, The Works has long been a cornerstone of harm reduction in Toronto. In 2017, it became home to the city’s first permanent supervised injection site.

Beyond the POINT Program, The Works offers a range of services, including its opioid substitution clinic, Methadone Works, which provides methadone and suboxone. Clients can access counselling, support, and referrals to other community services.

Another critical service offered is drug checking, enabling users to verify the contents of their substances for increased safety, helping to identify dangerous additives such as fentanyl and other contaminants commonly linked to overdoses.

For more information about The Works and its services, contact 416-392-0520 or email theworks@toronto.ca.

Note: Due to new regulations prohibiting supervised drug consumption sites within 200 metres of schools and childcare centres, The Works site at 277 Victoria Street is scheduled to close by March 31, 2025. Please verify the current status of services before visiting.