The local health unit wants the public to share its stories to help with the development of a drug and alcohol strategy.
Lambton Public Health Manager Michael Gorgey said they want feedback on a draft plan, which aims to reduce the demand for drugs and alcohol and increase support for those in recovery.
(Photo courtesy of Lambton Public Health)
"As part of the provincial response to the overdose crisis, public health was allocated some funding to address many things about the opioid crisis," said Gorgey. "That includes increasing the availability of naloxone in our community, developing a surveillance system and ultimately trying to develop a comprehensive strategy to address the harms of drugs and alcohol in our community."
Gorgey said residents can complete an online survey or upload a 90-second video about their own experiences.
"With drugs and alcohol I think we need to start sharing more stories about how it impacts our community and how it impacts individual lives," he said. "It's normalized that we consume some of these products, cannabis is now legal and 81 per cent of Lambton adults use alcohol regularly. So, this is something that is in our community. It's more powerful if we hear from people what is happening in their lives and how these substances impact them."
The survey is open until November 18, 2019 at www.shareyourvoice.ca.
Gorgey said the information collected will be considered when the drug and alcohol strategy is being prepared for implementation.
