Toronto's board of health has unanimously approved the implementation of three small-scale supervised injection sites in the city.
The issue now goes to city council for consideration.
The supervised injection sites would provide a safe and hygienic environment where people can inject pre-obtained drugs under the supervision of a nurse.
The board says more than 90 such sites are operating worldwide, including one in Vancouver's Downtown Eastside.
The Toronto and Ottawa Supervised Consumption Assessment study concluded that Toronto would benefit from multiple supervised injection services that are integrated into existing health services already serving people who inject drugs.
Between 2004 and 2014 there was a 77 per cent increase in the reported number of people dying from overdose in Toronto — from 146 in 2004 to 258 in 2014.
Mayor John Tory and Toronto Police Chief Mark Saunders have said they are in favour of having safe injection sites.
Legal operation of a supervised injection site in Canada requires an exemption under the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act, which is granted by the federal Minister of Health.
