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The Drug Poisoning Crisis in Waterloo Region

What we know; What is missing;
Envisioning a way forward.

​June 2023

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On June 1st, 2023 host Regional Councillor Rob Deutschmann held this virtual conversation focused on Waterloo Region's  drug-related crisis.

Hear expert guest speakers outline key aspects of the drug poisoning crisis we face in Waterloo Region, opportunities to improve our local prevention and response measures, and their visions for a safer and healthier community. 
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Following these speakers, participants had opportunity to ask questions and provide their thoughts on this important community issue.

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View All Speakers

​​Guest speakers include:

• Dr. Geoff Bardwell, Assistant Professor, School of Public Health Sciences at University of Waterloo
• Sara Escobar, Outreach Worker and co-founder of Peregrine Outreach Waterloo Region
• Char Lee, Peer Outreach Worker and Community Advocate
• Kathy Moreland, RN, MScN, MOM
• Michael Parkinson, Drug Strategies Specialist​​

​​Related Publications, Resources and Supports

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Local Resources

• Overdose Prevention - Waterloo Region Crime Prevention Council​
• Waterloo Region Drug Action Team 
• Waterloo Region Integrated Drug Strategy
• ​​(2022) Issues of Substance (Video below) by Crime Prevention Council ​​​

​(Some of our) Local Supports

• Consumption & Treatment Services​ - ​Region of Waterloo
• Consumption and Treatment Services - Sanguen Health Centre 
• ​Harm Reduction - ACCKWA
• Porchlight Counselling and Addiction Services
• ​Addiction Services  - Here 24/7
• Addiction Treatment - House of Friendship
• Consumption and Treatment Services (CTS) in Cambridge

​Provincial Resources

• Drug Strategy Network of Ontario
• Ontario Network of People Who Use Drugs (ONPUD)
• Ontario Drug Policy Research Network
• Interactive Opioid Tool: Opioid-related morbidity and mortality in Ontario -Public Health Ontario
• Moms Stop the Harm​​​

Other Resources

• Substance Use and Addiction - Homeless Hub
• Harm Reduction ​- Homeless Hub​​

National Resources

• ​Canadian Drug Policy Coalition
• Canadian Substance Use Costs and Harms (CSUCH)
• ​The Canadian Association of People who Use Drugs (CAPUD) ​
• Data, surveillance and research on opiods and other substances - ​Health Canada​
• National Safe Supply - Community of Practice

Local Related News Publications

• (2023) Regional Councillor plans town hall on drug crisis in Region - City News​​

• (2023)  Overdoses claim 36 lives in first four months of 2023: coroner’s data - TheRecord.com
• Town hall on drug poisoning crisis in region being held this week - City News
• Virtual town hall to address Waterloo Region drug issues -Cambridge Times
• ​Community town hall looks at the drug poisoning crisis in Waterloo Region (1:02:52) - The Mike Farwell Show
• (2023)‘We’re more alike than not’: Waterloo Region harm reduction groups drive conversation on overdose crisis - The Record News
• ​(2023) Five overdose deaths in Waterloo Region trigger drug poisoning alert - New Hamburg Independent
• (2023) Experts call recent overdose reports 'really saddening and really frustrating' - CTV News
• (2023) 3 suspected overdose deaths in Waterloo region since Saturday, community drug alert issued - CBC News
• (2023) Peer and greif support for outreach workers - Community Edition
• (2023) Overdose alert issued for Waterloo Region after 3 deaths in 4 days - Global News
• (2023) Alert issued after 5 drug deaths in 5 days in Waterloo Region - Cambridge Today
• (2023) Five overdose deaths in Waterloo Region trigger drug poisoning alert - The Record News
• (2023) Overdose alert issued for Waterloo Region after 2 women found dead on Wednesday morning - Global News​
• (2023) Two die of suspected overdoses in Waterloo region Wednesday morning - CTV News​

• (2023) Region of Waterloo puts out drug alert, warns of toxic supply - Cambridge Today​​
• (2023) Overdoses on the rise, three suspected drug-poisoning deaths in four days: WRIDS - CTV News​​​
• (2023) Four people dead in Waterloo Region from suspected overdoses - The Record News
• ​(2023) Five suspected drug deaths within five days in Waterloo region - CTV News
• (2023) Rise in overdoses, three suspected deaths leads to alert in Waterloo Region - City News 
• ​(2023) Three overdose deaths trigger drug poisoning alert - The Record News
• (2022) ‘Someone is most likely going to die today’ outreach worker says - The Record News
• (2022) "We've never been here before," say Waterloo Region outreach workers - The Record News
• (2022) Illegal Drugs should be decriminalized, Waterloo Region Crime Prevention Council Members say - The Record News
• (2022) Two deaths in four days prompt toxic drug alert in Waterloo region - CTV News
• (2022) Two suspected drug poisoning deaths in Kitchener and Wellesley - The Record News
• (2022) Police warn about green fentanyl after two overdose deaths - Cambridge Times
• (2022) Number of overdose deaths continues to rise in Waterloo Region (update) - City News 
• (2021) ‘It’s a just and compassionate thing to do’: Cambridge council endorses 150 Main St. for CTS site - The Record News
• (2017) "Heartbreaking" opioid crisis could have been averted with early intervention​ - Cambridge Times