By Lori Regenstreif and Chris Milburn

Media reaction to the Ontario government’s announcement that it is closing selected supervised drug consumption sites was swift and largely harsh, with news sites quoting “harm reduction experts” and politicians predicting an apocalyptic increase in overdose deaths.

The furor is over a change in policy that would force the closure of any site within 200 metres of a school or daycare. Only 10 of the 35-40 sites in the province would be affected.