Toronto’s new drug withdrawal centre offers ‘optimistic space’ as attitudes to drug crisis change

Joshua Orson sits on the edge of a bed in a bright, clean room, thinking about his journey from addict to health-care worker.The room is part of a new, 36-bed detox space in downtown Toronto that largely helps homeless patients, although it’s open to anyone who needs to get clean. There are private and shared rooms, a kitchen with cooked meals, laundry rooms and several lounges to play cards or watch television.