The United Way of Bruce Grey has released an Opioid Response Map highlighting the many ways the opiate crisis is being addressed. Six fatal overdoses have occurred in Grey Bruce this summer.
Executive Director Francesca Dobbyn revealed that in 2023, Grey County Paramedic Services responded to 163 patient calls due to opioid poisoning.
Dobbyn stressed that the situation is a healthcare crisis.
"It's healthcare, and that's a big message. What we're trying to get out to people in the community. These are health issues, and it needs a health response, so jailing more people isn't going to be a positive response," she added. "It's not going to change anything. It's not going to encourage somebody. It's going to be a really expensive way of housing somebody. So, what other interventions can we do? What else is there to help people?"
Grey Bruce Public Health has now issued 22 Opioid Alerts to partners in 2024, which is more than the 18 alerts issued throughout all of 2023.
The United Way of Bruce Grey wants to see more funding to respond to the opioid crisis. Dobbyn added safe consumption sites should also be part of the discussion
"Do we need a safe consumption site? Do we need to think about and talk about something like safe supply? When we look at alcohol, we have safe supplies because the LCBO and the Beer Store is there to make sure only the people who are old enough can buy it," she explained. "And that the actual supply itself is regulated so that nobody gets poisoned by it. And sometimes there's a recall, because there's glass in the wine or something like that. And we have safe consumption sites. We call them bars."
Grey Bruce Public Health Unit data indicates that in 2023, 19,482 people, or 11.1 per cent of the local population, have been prescribed opioids for pain management.
Meantime, a 2021 study revealed that nearly 60 per cent of individuals who succumbed to opioid toxicity were employed, with one-third of these individuals working in the construction industry.
Dobbyn said many agencies are working together on various programs aimed at reducing the harm. The year 2023 alone accounted for 163 patient calls for Grey County Paramedic Services due to opioid poisoning.
"We can do drug treatment out in the community. We've administered drug treatment programs under trees because we don't have the van to do it in the back of the van, and people are like, yep, whatever it takesWe're going to get it done," she continued. "And now that we have the Wellness Center here in Owen Sound, if the person is stable, paramedics can take them directly to withdrawal management, rather than taking them directly to the emergency room."
Dobbyn said their SOS mobile van has interacted with over 4,000 people throughout Grey county, and 76 per cent of them continue to engage with the program to access services like primary care, addiction medication, and counseling. But Dobbyn said they need $250,000 for a dedicated medical needs van and an additional $500,000 per year to expand SOS from four to seven days a week.
The SOS mobile team offers detailed drug-checking services, providing information about what substances are present in a sample and how much. The team can be reached at 519-379-8743 from Monday to Thursday, 8:30 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Dobbyn added that the Opioid Response Map includes mobile treatment, harm reductions, and outreach.
"Getting people ID and healthcare, because, it's really hard to get healthcare, and get people connected to programs when they don't have a primary care physician. So you think about somebody who's got cancer and needs pain management, and they're using street opiates because they don't have primary care who's looking after them to make sure that the painful side of that cancer is being looked after and they're sleeping in a tent," Dobbyn shared. "Right through to harm reduction, so that people don't get further sick because they're reusing needles, as well as having things like Naloxone around. You know, we gave a pile of seniors at a special event the other day, because I knew of somebody, a senior, had taken their opiates because they're on a prescription, forgot, and took it again and then had an overdose."
In Grey County alone since 2018 there have been a total of 98 opioid-related deaths. Four death occurred in 2018, ten in 2019, and 20 in 2020. There were 29 deaths in 2021, twelve in 2022 and 23 opioid related fatalities in 2023. Across Ontario in 2023, over 2,500 Ontarians died due to opioids.
Dobbyn pointed out the crisis has not only taken a human toll but has also imposed significant social and economic burdens on municipalities, including emergency response, homelessness prevention, health and community services.
