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Kenora Substance Abuse and Mental Health Task Force

Kenora Substance Abuse and Mental Health Task Force. “Making our community better by preventing substance abuse”. Goals:.

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Kenora Substance Abuse and Mental Health Task Force

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  1. Kenora Substance Abuse and Mental Health Task Force “Making our community better by preventing substance abuse”.

  2. Goals: • 1. Implement a comprehensive strategy. Support the implementation of a comprehensive substance abuse strategy to support healthy living and contribute to a sustainable community. • 2. Identify substance abuse prevention as key to a sustainable community. Work with leaders in Kenora to identify substance abuse prevention as a key contributing factor for a sustainable community. • 3. Obtain sustainable resources. Access sustainable funding and resources to assist in implementing this strategy. • 4. Advocate for coordinated services, increased communication and harmonized action. Advocate for system changes to provide better access to coordinated services and support to increase communication between service providers. • 5. Address service gaps and maximize services. Address service gaps and maximize existing services to ensure that service providers offer a seamless continuum of support. • 6. Provide information and support. Provide information and support so that service providers and intermediaries in Kenora are well informed about training, resources, and services. • 7. Build awareness. Work with stakeholders to build awareness about substance abuse. • 8. Provide a continuum of enforcement options. Work with enforcement agencies to provide a continuum of enforcement options that are demonstrated to be effective for harm reduction and substance abuse prevention in the community of Kenora.

  3. Highlight of Activities for 2011 • 1. Delegation to the City of Kenora Municipal Council for their support of the Task Force and Municipal Drug Strategy • 2. Development of our website http://substanceabuse.kenora.ca in consultation with Mike Newton Design, (Facebook link, “Contact Us” component, current calendar of events) • 3.Presentation to physicians, NOSM students, pharmacists and allied health professionals in September on the Task Force and the issue of prescription drug abuse in the community. • 4.The Prescription Drug Abuse Awareness Ball Tournament held October 1st was an excellent partnership event held with leadership from Kenora Chiefs Advisory. Eight teams came together for this fun-filled day and together nearly $5,000 was raised to focus efforts on raising the issue of prescription drug abuse. Highlights of the day long event can be viewed on YouTube at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N5RT-yiislA

  4. Highlight of Activities for 2011 • 5. Meeting with Greg Rickford at his local office in November. Discussing funding opportunities and getting Greg’s endorsement and partnership for the Task Force. • 6. Expanding on the “No Easy Way Out” Campaign (developed by Northern Ontario staff at the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health), we developed and erected our billboard on Highway 17 East to further raise awareness of the prescription drug abuse issues in our community. The toll free number for Crisis Response Services of the Kenora and Rainy River Districts was utilized to provide a number for individuals to call should they need help.

  5. Highlight of Activities for 2011 • 6. “No Easy Way Out Campaign” – (cont.) • Radio PSA campaign with Q-104 – 2 month extensive radio campaign with focus on Teen Drinking, Marijuana Facts, Prescription Drug Abuse • Book marks, promotional material • 7. Task Force logo/”branding” (Mike Newton Design)

  6. Enforcement Kenora Substance Abuse and Mental Health Task Force

  7. Activities • Strong partnerships with treatment resources to ensure that individuals are proactively referred to the appropriate agencies. • Ensure appropriate referrals are made for people with mental health challenges. • Education of justice officials related to public safety threats due to substance use and abuse. • Increased communication and efficiencies among Police, Corrections, Crown Attorneys and Probation Services.

  8. Activities • Distinguish between offenders to be provided community support and those who require a court sanction. • Invoke bail and probation terms that will assist in breaking the cycle of addiction and prevent re-victimization. • Enforcement activities targeting drug dealers, bootleggers and repeat offenders.

  9. 2011 Ontario Student Drug Use and Health Survey (OSDUHS) Drug Use Report (CAMH) Top 5 drugs – Province: alcohol (54.9%) cannabis (22.0%) N-M opioid pain relievers (14.0%) cigarettes (8.7%) OTC cough/cold medication (6.9%) Top 5 drugs – North: alcohol (59.5%) high-caffeine energy drinks (53.7%) any illicit drug use including N-M prescription drugs (37.8%) binge drinking (30.1%) cannabis (29.8%) 26% of northern students report becoming drunk at least once during the 4 weeks before the survey. 24% of northern students report drinking at a hazardous or harmful level. 21% of northern students had been a passenger in a vehicle, at least once in the past year, with a driver who had been drinking. 19% of northern students report that they were intoxicated at school at least once during the past 12 months before the survey. 11.7% of northern students indicate both hazardous/harmful drinking and elevated psychological distress, measuring symptoms of anxiety and depression.

  10. 2011 Ontario Student Drug Use and Health Survey (OSDUHS) Drug Use Report (CAMH) When comparing northern data vs. provincial data, students are above the provincial average on: -binge drinking -drunkenness -hazardous/harmful drinking -cannabis use -cigarette smoking -mushroom/mescaline use -cocaine/crack use -consumption of energy drinks -intoxicated at school -cannabis use and driving -drinking and operating a snowmobile/motor boat/Sea-doo/ATV -been passenger with a driver who had been using drugs We still have a lot of work to do in Northern Ontario……….

  11. Nobody made a greater mistake than he who did nothing because he could do only a little.Edmund Burke

  12. Kenora Drug Strategy • The Kenora Drug Strategy is a comprehensive action plan describing how the community will work together to prevent and reduce the incidence of substance abuse and its impact on the total community, as well as preserve the community’s quality of life and future.

  13. Goals: • 1. Implement a comprehensive strategy. Support the implementation of a comprehensive substance abuse strategy to support healthy living and contribute to a sustainable community. • 2. Identify substance abuse prevention as key to a sustainable community. Work with leaders in Kenora to identify substance abuse prevention as a key contributing factor for a sustainable community. • 3. Obtain sustainable resources. Access sustainable funding and resources to assist in implementing this strategy. • 4. Advocate for coordinated services, increased communication and harmonized action. Advocate for system changes to provide better access to coordinated services and support to increase communication between service providers. • 5. Address service gaps and maximize services. Address service gaps and maximize existing services to ensure that service providers offer a seamless continuum of support. • 6. Provide information and support. Provide information and support so that service providers and intermediaries in Kenora are well informed about training, resources, and services. • 7. Build awareness. Work with stakeholders to build awareness about substance abuse. • 8. Provide a continuum of enforcement options. Work with enforcement agencies to provide a continuum of enforcement options that are demonstrated to be effective for harm reduction and substance abuse prevention in the community of Kenora.

  14. Enforcement • Substance abuse is the catalyst for the vast majority of crime disorder. • Alcohol and drugs lead to violent crime, property crimes and major social issues. • Legislation is for our safety. • Police are mandated to prevent crime, enforce the law, maintain public order and provide assistance to victims of crime. • Does high enforcement work? • Links – General disorder to crime. • Goal is to reduce crime and victimization. Ultimately the individual behaviour of the offender will dictate what happens.

  15. Enforcement – Other Considerations • Substance abuse related deaths and injury. • Public intoxication, intimidation, aggressive panhandling, indecent acts, trespassing and disturbances are not victimless situations. • Quality of life and economic impact. • Youth – Our future. • Enforcement links to treatment and prevention.

  16. Community Partners Involved Alzheimer Society – Kenora/Rainy River Districts Nechee Friendship Centre Anishinaabe Abinoojii Family Services Northern Youth Centre Canadian Mental Health Association – Kenora Branch Northwestern Community Legal Clinic Centre for Addiction and Mental Health Northwestern Health Unit Changes Recovery Homes Ontario Provincial Police City of Kenora Treaty Three Police Community Mental Health Support Services (KACL) William W. Creighton Youth Services Crown Attorney’s Office Provincial Adult Probation and Parole Fellowship Centre Federal Probation and Parole Grand Council Treaty #3 Jubilee Church of God Keewatin-Patricia District School Board Kenora Catholic District School Board Kenora Chiefs Advisory Kenora Health Access Centre Kenora Jail Kenora-Patricia Child & Family Services Kenora Sexual Assault Centre Lake of The Woods Child Development Centre Lake of The Woods District Hospital Community Programs Legal Aid Ontario Liquor Control Board of Ontario Ministry of Children and Youth Services – Youth Justice Services National Native Alcohol & Drug Abuse Program (NNADAP)

  17. Community Initiatives • Strengthening Families For The Future Strengthening Families for the Future involves the entire family in exercises to learn new skills. Children between the ages of 7 – 11 participate in the program; however the entire family is invited to attend. Children under age 7 attend child supervision and those older than 11 can choose to assist with program activities or do their own activities. In the 14 week program, families learn to solve problems together and to communicate better. The goal is to improve family relationships and build child resilience. The program was designed for at risk families – but the skills learned in the program could benefit all families.

  18. Community Initiatives • “Opening Doors” Partnership between OPP, LWDH Community Programs, Kenora Catholic School Board, Ne Chee Friendship Centre Centre After school program for youth 10 -14 Activity based Positive Peer mentorship

  19. Community Initiatives • “Opening Doors” Partnership between OPP, LWDH Community Programs, Kenora Catholic School Board, Ne Chee Friendship Centre Centre After school program for youth 10 -14 Activity based Positive Peer mentorship

  20. Community Initiatives • Kenora Community Fall & Spring Feast Community capacity building 50 local organizations contributing! Partnerships and understanding emerge

  21. Community Initiatives • Prescription Drug Abuse Awareness Campaign • Baseball Tournament fund raising event Saturday, October 1st • Bill Board message, radio PSA’s • Drug Awareness Week – November 21 – 27th • Medicine cabinet clean out/recovery breakfast • YAD (Youth Against Drugs) Much Music Event

  22. Community Initiatives • Presentation to local doctors, dentists & pharmacists (knowledge exchange, awareness created) • Methadone program presentation to doctors

  23. Nobody made a greater mistake than he who did nothing because he could do only a little.Edmund Burke

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