The four pillars to address this situation were identified as prevention and education, harm reduction, treatment and community safety.

Ten recommendations were also offered

1 – Engage people with lied and living experience, and include them at the table when formulating policy

2 - Advocate for a provincial drug strategy task force with a paid co-ordinator

3 – Advocate for access to real-time data on drug poisonings

4 – Invest in upstream prevention and early interventions

5 – Proactively address stigma within your organization

6 – Expand harm-reduction services provincially

7 – Expand mobile outreach, harm reduction and medical treatment

8 – Build capacity in the HKLN Drug Strategy network

9 – Establish direct-access pathways to care, withdrawal management and treatment

10 – Pursue evidence-based and health-centred diversion programs

HKPR Health Promoter Kate Hall pointed to Kawartha Lakes, which has an addictions specialist who goes out with police crisis units, and called for funding for key positions like this – so many of these positions basically survive from grant to grant, she said.

Cobourg Mayor Lucas Cleveland asked a few high-level questions (such as what evidence-based means and how recent are their data), allowing that they might not have the answers handy. The motion passed by the committee included an invitation back for Dec. 18, where further questions can be asked at the regular session of council.