FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Solutions to End the Drug Poisoning Crisis in Ontario: Choosing a New Direction   
[May 5, 2022] - [Ontario, Canada] - In Ontario through the pandemic...

Addictions and Mental Health Ontario (AMHO) has launched an election website to promote engagement on challenges facing the addiction and mental health sector: https://notimetowaitontario.ca/

As the beginning of the election coincides with Mental Health Week, this is an opportunity to contribute to a national dialogue on mental health and addiction. Visit AMHOs website to learn more about the issues, download  social media assets, or send a letter directly to your local candidates calling for a better mental health and addiction system.
In the 2022 provincial election, AMHO calls on all political parties to commit to:

• Implementing a strategy to address growing wait times for mental health, addiction, and substance use health services.

          Including baseline funding increases to community-based mental health, addiction,
          and substance use health providers by 8% ($120M annually).

• Developing and implementing a Health Human Resources plan to address the staffing challenges in the sector.

          Including working towards wage equity to achieve wage parity with the hospital
          sector and removing compensation caps for workers on the front lines.

• Responding urgently to the escalating overdose crisis and the drastic rise in overdose deaths.

          Including restriking the Ontario Emergency Opioid Task Force.

• Using a social determinants of health approach in designing and implementing mental health and substance use supports and services.

          Including increasing the supply and access to supportive housing units and ensuring
          people with lived and living experience (PWLE) are actively engaged as partners in
          designing the system of care.

At a special Drug Strategy Network of Ontario (DSNO) meeting on April 20, 2022, members endorsed four policy solutions to reduce drug poisoning deaths and injuries in Ontario. Implementing these policies will significantly reduce the harms, including death, experienced by people who consume unregulated drugs. They will also improve community safety by reducing drug-related crime and drug poisoning rates, while simultaneously decreasing community costs incurred by first responders, police and courts responding to the current drug poisoning crisis.

View the four policy solutions, show your support, and view related media coverage.

Note: The Municipal Drug Strategy Coordinator's Network of Ontario (MDSCNO) recently changed its name to Drug Strategy Network of Ontario (DSNO).