Toronto, like other cities in North America, is experiencing a high rate of drug overdoses which is risking or causing death.
Six in 10 (60%) Torontonians believe that the high rate of drug overdoses is primarily a public health issue and our priority right now should be on helping the people most at risk. Those most likely to embrace this view are women (63%) versus men (56%), those who were younger (70% aged 18 – 34). Across the city, this view is most likely to be held in Old City of Toronto/Downtown (70%) followed by those in the work/East York (66%), Scarborough (59%) North York (54%) and Etobicoke (53%).
This compares with 40% of Torontonians who believe this situation is primarily a police and criminal court issue and our priority right now should be catching and punishing drug dealers. Those most likely to have this perspective are men (44%) versus women (37%), those lower educated (61%) and those who are older (49% 55+). Geographically, this view is held highest in Etobicoke (47%) followed by those in North York (46%), Scarborough (41%), York/East York (34%) and in the Old City of Toronto/Downtown.
When Torontonians hear nowadays that someone has died from a drug overdose seven in 10 (68%) believe that the individual is an addict who made some bad choices as opposed to an unwilling victim who was an occasional user and didn’t know what was in the drug (32%).
Those most likely to believe people who are overdosing are addicts (68%) are most likely from North York (72%) followed by those in Etobicoke (71%), Scarborough (70%), York/East York (60%) and in the Old City of Toronto/Downtown (62%). Demographically, there’s no significant difference except that those with children (71%) are more likely to fall into this category.
Those most likely to believe those overdosing are occasional users (32%) are most likely to come from your/East York (40%) followed by those from the old city of Toronto/downtown (38%), Scarborough (30%), Etobicoke (29%) and North York (20%). There are a few demographic differences except for those earning between $75,000 – $99,000 (37%) and those who rent (35%) who are more likely to believe this to be the case.
A plurality (41%) believe that not enough is being done with the overdosing situation and that Toronto should declare a public health emergency and deploy all the resources it can. Those most likely to believe this are those earning less than $50,000 a year (49%) women (48%) along with those who rent (48%) and those who are younger (45% aged 18 – 34). This view is most health in North York (46%) followed by those in the Old City of Toronto/Downtown (45%), York/East York (42%, Etobicoke (37%) and Scarborough (35%).
This compares with one third (33%) who believe that Toronto is doing enough right now and it doesn’t need to declare a public health emergency. Those most likely to take this view are Torontonians who are middle-aged (37%), employed (37%) and men (36%). There also most likely to come from old city of Toronto/downtown (36%) and Etobicoke (34%) followed by those from North York/York/East York each at 32% and Scarborough at 31%.
And lastly, one quarter (26%) don’t believe this is a public health emergency and that Toronto should just give the police and the courts the tools to clean the mess up. Those most likely to hold this view are older (32% aged 55+), lower educated (36%) and men (31%). Geographically, the most likely to come from Scarborough (34%) followed by those from Etobicoke (28%), York/East York (26%), North York (23%) and the City of Toronto/Downtown (19%).