NEWS RELEASE
COUNTY OF SIMCOE
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The County of Simcoe, as part of the Simcoe Muskoka Opioid Strategy (SMOS) partnership, has launched a new online resource called www.preventOD.ca to help those struggling with addiction, their family and friends, primary care practitioners, emergency managers, and other residents who want to know more about what they can do to prevent the opioid crisis from worsening.
The site provides helpful information about safe opioid use, area harm reduction services, and local treatment and support services. It also offers an area for professionals to access tools related to the treatment and management of pain and addictions.
The site also features an anonymous area to report bad drugs. The Report Bad Drugs form allows a person who has consumed street drugs, or someone who supports them, to report a bad or unexpected reaction to a street drug to help others know about bad drugs that may be circulating in our communities.
This Report Bad Drugs form is completely anonymous and no interaction with law enforcement will result. Once a Report Bad Drugs form is completed, it will immediately be available for others to view. The form can be accessed directly through www.reportbaddrugssimcoe.ca or www.reportbaddrugsmuskoka.ca.
Since 2016, the rates of opioid addiction and misuse have been rising rapidly across the country. Simcoe Muskoka is not immune to this crisis. SMOS is a multi-sector collaboration formed to address the opioid crisis in Simcoe and Muskoka, and the harms it is causing to individuals, families and communities.
Local stats*
|
Year |
Emergency Department Visits |
Hospitalizations |
Deaths |
|
2008 |
121 |
86 |
19 |
|
2016 |
271 |
126 |
46 |
|
Jan-Sept 2017 |
346 |
87 |
36 |
“The crisis related to opioid overdose and addiction is sweeping across Canada and we know our region is seeing a significant spike in reported cases with the impacts being felt by growing demand on our paramedics, emergency departments and community programs,” said Jane Sinclair, General Manager, Health and Emergency Services.
“Together, with area partners, we are building a local strategy and are hopeful that this new website and anonymous reporting tool will support with greater safety and awareness in our communities.”
County of Simcoe is composed of sixteen member municipalities and provides crucial public services to County residents in addition to providing paramedic and social services to the separated cities of Barrie and Orillia. Visit our website at simcoe.ca.
*Ontario Agency for Health Protection and Promotion (Public Health Ontario). Interactive Opioid Tool. Toronto, ON: Queen’s Printer for Ontario; 2018. Available here.
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