Experts present strategy to address drug poisoning crisis

Levi Meir Clancy-Hospital Beds. Upsplash (Free use public domain.)

By: Darryl Knight, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, The Standard Newspaper

The growing drug poisoning crisis in the County of Haliburton, City of Kawartha Lakes, and Northumberland County was the focus of a detailed presentation to the City of Kawartha Lakes council recently. The report, presented by Kate Hall, Health Promoter, and Vidya Sunil, Epidemiologist, both from the Haliburton Kawartha Northumberland Peterborough Board of Health, alongside Julie Elliott, Chair of the Haliburton Kawartha Lakes Northumberland Drug Strategy, outlined a comprehensive four-pillar approach to tackling the issue.

The situational assessment, part of the Haliburton Kawartha Lakes Northumberland Drug Strategy, examined local drug use trends and proposed actionable strategies under the four pillars: Prevention and Education, Treatment, Harm Reduction, and Community Safety.

“This crisis has been many years in the making and has reached a point where coordinated, data-driven action is critical,” said Kate Hall. She emphasized that the drug poisoning crisis is exacerbated by factors such as the historic over-prescription of opioids, the emergence of synthetic opioids in the unregulated drug supply, and the lingering impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Vidya Sunil presented data showing the alarming increase in drug poisonings in the region, highlighting the unpredictability of the unregulated drug supply due to contaminants. “The data is clear—this is a public health emergency that requires a multi-faceted response,” Ms. Sunil explained.

The report also reviewed the efforts of local organizations working within the four pillars. Julie Elliott stressed the importance of collaboration, noting that no single organization can tackle the issue alone. “We need to focus on reducing harm, providing effective treatment, and ensuring our communities are safe and informed,” Ms. Elliott said.

Among the recommendations were increased public education on the risks of drug use, expanded access to harm reduction services like naloxone kits, enhanced treatment options, and stronger community safety initiatives.

“The four-pillar approach allows us to address this crisis from multiple angles, ensuring that prevention, intervention, and support are all part of the solution,” Ms. Hall concluded.

Councillors expressed their gratitude for the presentation and indicated its willingness to explore how the recommendations could be implemented locally to mitigate the devastating effects of the drug poisoning crisis.