A Blueprint to Battle the Opioid Epidemic in Oxford County

Tuesday, 19 March 2019 10:20

The Oxford County Drug and Alcohol Strategy Steering Committee has unveiled a blueprint on how to deal with substance abuse locally.

OXFORD COUNTY - The Oxford County Drug and Alcohol Strategy Steering Committee has unveiled a blueprint on how to deal with substance abuse locally.

The strategy outlines a series of short-term, medium-term and long-term actions targeting a broad range of substances. They focus on prevention, treatment, harm reduction, and justice and community safety. Oxford County, like many communities across Canada is facing an opioid epidemic. The number of opioid related emergency visits and poisonings continue to surge.

In 2017 The Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care made funding available to local public health units to collaborate with community partners on outreach and response activities to address drug and opioid-related
challenges in Ontario. The Strategy seeks not only to address the current challenges presented by problematic substance use, with attention paid to the specific needs of women and older adults, members of LGBTQ2+community, Indigenous community members, individuals experiencing mental health challenges, and those involved with the justice system, but takes a proactive and early intervention approach by targeting evidence-informed prevention strategies.

The recommended actions presented in the strategy were formulated based on a thorough review of local data and best practices in service delivery by Southwestern Public Health, and consultations with community agencies, service provider networks and residents of Oxford County who have previously used or currently use substances. Steering Committee Member Shannon Byrnes says addiction is not an easy thing to overcome.

"I never really knew anything about addicts, until I became one. My addiction was all consuming. Nothing else mattered anymore. I did things I'm not proud of to pay for my pills. It was a bleak existence. Until finally, with the help of organizations and individuals, I found the path that worked best for me."

In consideration of these challenges, actions outlined in the Strategy include:

- Exploring youth homelessness models that could be used in Oxford County

- Implementing and promoting standardized solutions for immediate crisis support (e.g. Rapid Access Addiction Medication clinics)

- Supporting and expanding mobile services that deliver a ‘one-stop’ approach (e.g. harm reduction supplies)

- Promoting the "Good Samaritan" law

- Charting a community-based action plan was certainly not an easy task, given the range of issues associated with problematic substance use. Other realities can potentially include addressing stigma; stable housing; transportation; food; personal safety; access to timely and appropriate services; awareness; education; employment; and supporting and engaging families.

The full Oxford County Community Drug and Alcohol Strategy is available online here.