Chatham-Kent council has decided to move forward on development of a local drug strategy. 
Opioid abuse is on the rise across Chatham-Kent with the local rate of hospitalizations more than 2.5 times greater than the provincial average.
Councillor Brock McGregor brought the motion forward.
“Everyone in our community recognizes that this issue has been getting worse for some time, and that’s not unique to Ontario or Canada, but there’s unique aspects to that in Chatham-Kent,” McGregor says.
“We struggle with low population density, big geography when we’re trying to deliver service, and that’s going to be a really important part of any plan that we put together to make sure all communities are able to be touched by that type of strategy.”
The proposed plan would be subject to budget funding and approval.