By Rosalind Russell – Espanola Town Council proclaimed August Drug Awareness Month and held a flag raising yesterday to bring awareness to the issue.
Carol Hughes, MP for Algoma-Manitoulin-Kapuskasing, attended the event and spoke about the importance of dealing with the opioid crisis.
Hughes says she is grateful to Espanola Mayor Doug Gervais and council’s declaration ahead of Overdose Awareness Day on August 31st.
She says the opioid crisis has hit Northern Ontario harder than other parts of the country adding in 2022, the six public health units that reported the highest per capita opioid-related deaths were all in the North.
Opioid addiction affects every one of us she says emphasizing the importance of listening to health agencies, supportive services and the volunteers who are on the front lines.
Hughes adds it’s a national problem that needs a national strategy.
Hughes points out in recent months; public health organizations have been sounding the alarm about increased opioid-related overdoses.
The Porcupine Health Unit had mobilized a red alert last month due to increases in suspected opioid-related overdoses.
Public Health Sudbury and Districts have issued warnings about increases in the number of drug poisonings (overdoses).
Many health units are calling for better access to supervised consumption sites to reduce overdose deaths.
Hughes says government can no longer turn a blind eye to the crisis and need to take a health-based approach to ensure lives are being saved and people are getting the help they need.
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