The Sudbury health unit board of health will be asked this week to vote on a motion to hold "a local leadership summit on the escalating drug toxicity crisis."
The motion was outlined in the pre-agenda for Public Health Sudbury and Districts’ (PHSD) regular monthly board of health meeting on June 15.
The pre-agenda shows there will be a formal presentation titled "Addressing the Toxic Drug Crisis" taking place during Thursday's meeting.
As a follow up to that the board is expected to be presented with a motion titled "Drug/Opioid Crisis Leadership Summit".
The motion in the pre-agenda references that "Northern Ontario is experiencing the highest drug toxicity mortality rates in the province" and that the rate for Sudbury is "worsening".
The term ‘drug toxicity’ can refer to an overdose through the overconsumption of a substance, typically a drug, but it can also refer to the adulteration of the illicit drug supply with other substances, some of which are also drugs, that can lead to higher-than-expected incidences of overdose.
The motion also mentioned that the executive committee of the Community Drug Strategy for the City of Greater Sudbury (CDS-CGS) has strongly endorsed the need for a local leadership summit on the escalating drug toxicity crisis.
The motion asks the board to endorse the drug strategy leadership and move forward with the summit taking into account that the board of health is required to “reduce the burden of preventable injuries and substance use through the development and implementation of public health interventions informed by collaboration with health and social service partners”.
The motion also said "this complex issue requires all sectors to be fully engaged to investigate and commit to intensified and innovative approaches to reverse the mortality trend and save lives."
Further to that, the motion also states that "in recognition of the all-of-society complexity of the drug toxicity issue", the motion strongly supports the idea that the summit should be carried out based on principles of inclusion and diversity, including the involvement of persons who use and are affected by substances.
The motion calls on the board of health to endorse the drug strategy recommendation "and direct the Medical Officer of Health to ensure Public Health engagement in organizing a local leadership summit on the escalating drug toxicity crisis."
Thursday's meeting begins at 1:30 p.m. and is open to the public through a virtual online link.
Len Gillis covers health care and mining for Sudbury.com.
