Five people died of drug overdoses last month. That is according to the Haliburton, Kawartha, Pine Ridge District Health Unit. In 2021, 28 people died. That is more than double what it was only two years ago.

Northumberland County has more suspected cases of drug overdoses than anywhere else in the health unit’s coverage area.

If you ask Dr. Natalie Bocking, the chief medical officer of health, she will tell you it is a crisis. Many would agree.

The health unit’s support of a harm reduction approach to the crisis has politicians upset. Earlier this week, Bocking was in front of the county council, explaining the health unit’s position. As councillors vented their frustration, Port Hope Mayor Olena Hankivsky was the only member of county council to try to take concrete steps during the presentation. She offered to seek the support of her council to help jump-start a drug strategy with the health unit.

In today’s interview, Dr. Bocking will explain the health unit’s position. She will also address much of the misinformation and disinformation being spread by politicians and the public about harm reduction, overdose prevention sites, and what can and cannot be done.

After that, something different. Every homeowner in the county puts out the recycling. Those gray, blue, and green containers help divert 90 percent of materials from landfills.

The recycling goes to  the Materials Recovery Facility, or what is referred to as the MRF. It has been around for decades. It was sold recently to a huge company taking over the plant at the end of this year.

You will hear two county representatives talk about the sale and the impact on the curbside pickup that residents currently enjoy.