New report aims to tackle Simcoe Muskoka's alarming opioid crisis
A new report released by the Simcoe Muskoka Opioid Strategy (SMOS) Committee offers a plan to tackle the crisis in the region.
The report includes goals and actions, including prevention, treatment, harm reduction, enforcement, and emergency management.
Overall it saw a number of successes like increased access to naloxone kits, the creation of an emergency management plan for opioid outbreaks and a new mobile withdrawal management program.
"The program is still in its infancy in a lot of ways, but certainly we've already had clients in the program and seen success in the program and realize it's really serving a need," said Meredith Fryia, Addiction Program CMHA Simcoe County.
Between March 2020 and September 2021, 245 opioid-related deaths were reported in Simcoe Muskoka, a nearly 70 per cent spike from the 19 months before the pandemic.
The report notes, "Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, Simcoe Muskoka continued to experience significant numbers of opioid poisonings and related deaths because of the increasingly toxic and unregulated drug supply being sold at the street level."
It states that in 2020, 90 per cent of all opioid poisoning deaths in the region involved fentanyl, with most deaths occurring in men between 25 and 44 years of age.
Mia Brown, the SMOS steering committee chair and manager of the health unit's substance use and injury prevention, noted that "significant progress" is still needed.
"The issues associated with substance use are complex, and unfortunately, we have not seen a reduction in the rate of opioid-related harms," Brown stated.
The committee is working to develop a strategy for 2023 and beyond to address emerging trends, focusing on broadening the scope of illicit substances, exploring safe opioid supply programs, pursuing access to treatment, and advocating for decriminalizing personal use and possession, along with enhancing social services.
The strategy planned for the future includes supporting a safe consumption site in Barrie, the application for which is currently under review by the provincial and federal governments.
"If the site is approved, we will be collaborating again with the community and forming community advisory for the site and providing that ongoing engagement in the community with ongoing education," said Brown.
Brown said community partnerships would also be ongoing, including with the Indigenous Health Circle, which also developed its own Indigenous-led opioid strategy and action plan.
The full report on the Simcoe Muskoka opioid strategy is available here.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
'They needed people inside Air Canada:' Police announce arrests in Pearson gold heist
Police say one former and one current employee of Air Canada are among the nine suspects that are facing charges in connection with the gold heist at Pearson International Airport last year.
Why drivers in Eastern Canada could see big gas price spikes, and other Canadians won't
Drivers in Eastern Canada face a big increase in gas prices because of various factors, especially the higher cost of the summer blend, industry analysts say.
BREAKING Toronto Raptors player Jontay Porter banned from NBA
Toronto Raptors player Jontay Porter has been handed a lifetime ban from The National Basketball Association (NBA) following an investigation which found he disclosed confidential information to sports bettors, the league says.
WATCH LIVE As GC Strategies partner is admonished by MPs, RCMP confirms search warrant executed
The RCMP confirmed Wednesday it had executed a search warrant at an address registered to GC Strategies. This development comes as MPs are enacting an extraordinary, rarely used parliamentary power, summoning one of its contractors to appear before the House of Commons to be admonished publicly for failing to answer questions related to the ArriveCan app.
Disappointment widespread over budget's proposed $200-month disability benefit funding
Advocacy groups across Canada are expressing widespread disappointment about the amount of funding earmarked in the 2024 federal budget for the long-awaited Canada Disability Benefit.
Earthquake jolts southern Japan
An earthquake with a preliminary magnitude of 6.4 hit southern Japan late on Wednesday, said the Japan Meteorological Agency, without issuing a tsunami warning.
opinion Don Martin: Gusher of Liberal spending won't put out the fire in this dumpster
A Hail Mary rehash of the greatest hits from the Trudeau government’s three-week travelling pony-show, the 2024 federal budget takes aim at reversing the party’s popularity plunge in the under-40 set, writes political columnist Don Martin. But will it work before the next election?
Ancient skeletons unearthed in France reveal Mafia-style killings
More than 5,500 years ago, two women were tied up and probably buried alive in a ritual sacrifice, using a form of torture associated today with the Italian Mafia, according to an analysis of skeletons discovered at an archeological site in southwest France.
Paul McCartney and John Lennon’s sons have released a single together
A new Lennon and McCartney collaboration is the last thing anybody expected.