Municipal Drug Strategy Community Consultation Report Released
July 22, 2020
The Leeds, Grenville and Lanark District Health Unit hosted approximately 60 interested community stakeholders on January 29, 2020 to discuss the ongoing issues and current resources related to substance use including alcohol in Brockville. The day was wrapped up with a discussion on the potential role a Municipal Drug Strategy could have in helping to address the situation. A Municipal Drug Strategy is a collaborative framework that recognizes the need for humane drug policies, the meaningful involvement of people who use substances and a multi sector approach spanning prevention, harm reduction, treatment and justice.
Recognizing that the current substance use landscape has changed significantly since the consultation day, the organizing group have released a Community Consultation Report on the heels of a delegation presentation to Brockville City Council on July 14, 2020. The presentation to city council and the report highlight the following: current issues; what is currently working well; what is still missing as well as the Municipal Drug Strategy Framework.
The delegation presentation requested that Brockville City Council consider the following as next steps;
- Endorsement of a MDS for Brockville
- Establish a MDS steering committee
- Appoint a council rep or staff liaison to steering committee
- Council members advocating at higher municipal and government tables for the recognition of the current situation and the need to act urgently & in proportion to the severity of the crisis
- Establish working groups to address all 4 pillar recommendations in the report
- Establish a joint committee to establish a permanent solution to the homelessness in the city.
Visit the Health Unit’s website for more information on Municipal Drug Strategies and/or to view the Community Consultation Report.
Contact:
For media interviews, contact: Jennifer Adams, Harm Reduction Co-ordinator, 1-800-660-5853