With more than 2,500 deaths from opioid-related overdoses in Ontario last year, a new report from the Association of Municipalities of Ontario (AMO) outlines the impact of the toxic drug crisis on Ontario communities and urges action from the province.
Developed with input from several health and social service sector partners, including the Canadian Mental Health Association, Ontario, The Opioid Crisis: A Municipal Perspective outlines the complexity and severity of the crisis, as well as how it’s intertwined with broader societal challenges like homelessness, poverty, mental health, criminal justice and intergenerational trauma.
The report calls attention to how, in addition to lives lost, the opioid crisis has significant social and economic impacts on municipalities across Ontario, putting increasing financial pressure on key municipal services such as emergency response, homeless prevention and affordable housing, and public health.
In the publication, AMO and its partners focus on the need for investments throughout the continuum of care and note that short-term, stand-alone interventions will not provide solutions. The document outlines concrete actions for provincial and federal leadership to address the crisis, including prevention programs, treatment and harm reduction options, and support for first responders.
Read the full report on the AMO website.