The city’s chief medical officer of health is recommending pushing ahead with opening three safe drug injection sites.

After months of public consultation, Dr. David McKeown issued a report Friday urging the Board of Health and city council to endorse the idea.

“Toronto would benefit from multiple supervised injection services that are integrated into existing health services already serving people who inject drugs,” the report said.

McKeown argues that allowing safe injection sites would help prevent overdose deaths and points out that there has been a 77% increase in deaths due to drug overdoses between 2004 and 2014. According to public health, 258 deaths were due to overdoses in 2014.

Councillor Joe Cressy, who heads the city’s drug strategy task force, says the drug death numbers are staggering.

“We need a public health response that will save lives, improve the health of people who use drugs, and make our communities safe. Supervised injection services will do that,” Cressy said.

“Today’s report makes it clear. Toronto is ready to embrace an evidence-based approach to drug policy. An evidence-based approach to reduce harm and save lives.”

Cressy says “drug use is already in our backyards” and supervision would improve safety and public health.

The issue will go to city council in July.

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The locations being recommended for the safe injection sites:

* Queen West-Central Toronto Community Health Centre near Queen and Bathurst Sts.,

* Toronto Public Health’s The Works centre near Yonge-Dundas Square.

* South Riverdale Community Health Centre in the Pape Ave. and Queen St.