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Toronto needs to expand its harm reduction services and add more supervised injection sites as the opioid death toll continues to rise, public health officials recommend.

In a report to next Monday’s meeting of the Toronto Board of Health, public health officials are also recommending that the federal government be urged to decriminalize personal possession of all drugs.

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“Too many people in our community are dying from taking drugs contaminated with fentanyl and other potent substances,” Dr. Eileen de Villa, Toronto’s medical officer of health, said in a statement. “These preventable deaths are devastating for the families, friends and colleagues affected by these tragedies.”

“This is the defining health crisis of our generation and while there have been many actions taken, much more is needed.”

The city’s board of health also will be asked to expand overdose initiatives for underserved groups and areas of Toront, including social housing, and to increase treatment options such as “managed” opioid programs.