Chatham-Kent is looking for public feedback as it develops a strategy that addresses opioid use and its related harms in the municipality.
Chatham-Kent has launched two separate online surveys to garner public feedback on its Municipal Drug Strategy. Community partners and local residents are encouraged to voice their opinions until the surveys close on Tuesday.
In 2019, CK identified the need for a drug strategy to provide a coordinated approach to substance use, with a focus on prevention, building community capacity, and supporting people who use opioids. CK Council approved spending $110,000 in early 2020 to fund the development of the strategy, however, the COVID-19 pandemic put the project on hiatus.
Once the demands of the pandemic diminished, the municipality once again began working with several groups to develop the strategy. Those involved include the consulting firm Collective Results, the CK Drug Strategy Steering Committee, CK Public Health, community partners, and people who have experienced substance use.
The Municipal Drug Strategy is expected to be brought to council this fall for review and implementation.
Those who wish to take part in the online surveys on the drug strategy can do on the Let’s Talk Chatham-Kent website.