A public town hall forum is taking place on Wednesday for people concerned with the continuing opioid crisis in Sudbury.
The forum, called Two Years Too Many, is being hosted on Facebook by Sudbury MPP Jamie West. It takes place June 9 at 6:30 p.m.
The purpose of the event is to discuss solutions that might resolve the issue of too many opioid overdoses happening in Sudbury and across Northern Ontario.
"Immediate action to prevent opioid addiction and overdoses must happen. We need a collaborative and compassionate solution TODAY! We need to make our voices heard.
This Town Hall will have an information session followed by an open discussion with the audience. I want to hear from you on the best all-encompassing approach we can use as northern communities to address this crisis and help save lives," said a statement posted on West's Facebook page.
The page also noted that currently, Sudbury's per capita death rate by opioids is the highest in Ontario.
West's page also stated that West had tried to get increased funding for harm reduction strategies, awareness programs, anti-stigma training, residential treatment, and overdose prevention services but his motion to that effect at Queen's Park was voted down.
The town hall forum will have an information session followed by an open discussion with the audience.
"I want to hear from you on the best all-encompassing approach we can use as northern communities to address this crisis and help save lives," West wrote on his page.
The event is expected to have guest speakers:
- Darren Ransom, lived experience speaker who pioneered Silent No More in Sudbury;
- Dr. Krishna, concerned psychiatrist working with both inpatients and outpatients at Health Sciences North;
- Josée Joliat, Public Health Nurse on the mental health and substance use team at PHSD & coordinator of the Community Drug Strategy for the City of Greater Sudbury.
The event is free and West wrote that questions may be submitted in advance to [email protected]. and the townhall will take place live on West's Facebook page.
