March 17, 2026
Statement on the Closure of Peterborough’s Consumption and Treatment Site
The Peterborough 360 Degree Nurse Practitioner-Led Clinic (360 NPLC) would like to express our sincere gratitude to the frontline staff who have worked at Peterborough’s Consumption and Treatment Site (CTS). Their work has been compassionate, skilled, and lifesaving. Every day, they have demonstrated unwavering commitment—preventing overdoses, building trust, and connecting individuals to care. Their contributions have made a meaningful and lasting impact in Peterborough.
The recent announcement of the CTS closure will have significant and far-reaching effects—not only for individuals who relied on this service, but for the broader community and the many partners who support it.
The 360 NPLC, located in downtown Peterborough, provides primary care and health system navigation for marginalized and vulnerable populations—many of whom accessed care through or alongside CTS services. The closure of the CTS represents not only the loss of a critical harm reduction service, but also the loss of an important entry point into primary care for individuals who often face substantial barriers to accessing traditional healthcare.
This comes at a time when our clinic has already experienced reductions in harm reduction capacity, including the loss of funding for the Safer Supply Program (SSP) last year. Programs like SSP and CTS are not standalone services—they are interconnected components of a broader continuum of care that support engagement, stability, and safety. Evidence shows that supervised consumption services and related harm reduction programs reduce overdose deaths, improve access to treatment, and act as critical gateways into healthcare and social supports.
With each reduction in this continuum, the system becomes more fragmented, and individuals are more likely to fall through the gaps.
The closure of the CTS is expected to increase pressure on the Emergency Department, as more individuals will require acute care for overdoses and related complications that were previously managed in a supervised setting. In addition, the loss of on-site nursing care—including preventative wound care—means more untreated infections and complications, further driving avoidable hospital visits. This added demand will contribute to longer wait times and increased strain on an already overburdened system.
The impacts of this closure will extend well beyond the healthcare sector. Without a comparable service in place, we can expect increased pressures on paramedic services and police, who will see a rise in overdose responses and crisis calls. Public spaces—including the library, transit hubs, and other shared community environments—will experience increased challenges as individuals who previously accessed supervised care are displaced. Public works teams will also face increased demands related to community safety and public space maintenance.
Supervised consumption services have consistently been shown to reduce harms not only for individuals, but for communities—decreasing overdose-related morbidity and mortality and supporting safer public environments. Their absence will be felt across multiple sectors.
We remain encouraged that organizations such as Fourcast, PARN, and PRHC’S RAAM clinic will continue to play a critical role in supporting individuals who use substances. Their work in treatment, recovery, and harm reduction remains essential. However, with the narrowing of the continuum of services available in Peterborough, gaps in care will inevitably emerge. The CTS has been a vital point of connection for many individuals, and its closure will leave a noticeable void.
This moment underscores the importance of coordinated, community-based responses that prioritize both individual wellbeing and public safety. It is essential that we work together to ensure that those most at risk remain connected to care.
We again extend our deepest thanks to the frontline staff whose dedication has saved lives and strengthened our community.
Media Contact:
Danielle Howson, NP
Nurse Practitioner Lead / Executive Director
Peterborough 360 Degree Nurse Practitioner-Led Clinic
360admin@nplc.ca
