A community like Guelph
The Wellington Guelph Drug Strategy
The drug strategy followed in Wellington Guelph is comprised of four main pillars.
- Prevention Pillar
- Harm reduction Pillar
- Treatment and Recovery Pillar
- Community Safety Pillar
The prevention pillar consists of strategies to aid in preventing the use of drugs and harmful substances. This involves educating people and youth about the risks/benefits of substance use, offering mentorship programs, and policy development regarding the sale and accessibility of such substances.
The harm reduction pillar involves a health centered approach to substance use. The main purpose of this pillar is to support and protect the health and well being of those in the community who partake in drug use. Harm reduction involves needle exchange programs, overdose prevention and safe consumption sites, education to users about substitution therapies, mobile clinics and providing naloxone kits for opioid users.
Safe consumption sites: sterile and judgment free locations in which clients are able to administer substances safely under the supervision of trained staff. These sites also provide opportunities for engagement in health and social services at the clients request. Some examples of services available at these sites include the distribution of supplies to make injection safer, education on safer administration techniques, overdose prevention and intervention, medical services, counselling services, referrals and connections to additional treatment options.
Other components of harm reduction which should be highlighted include ensuring easy access to fentanyl test strips or reagent test kits within the city. Additionally, advertisement and implementation of drug testing programs such as the Toronto drug checking service in which clients can be informed of what their drug samples contain and can thus make safer more informed choices and take the appropriate precautions.
The goal of the treatment and recovery pillar is to support and encourage the implementation of services and programs which offer care options for people experiencing substance-related issues. These programs may include supportive housing, peer support groups, withdrawal management programs, and counseling.
The objective of the community safety pillar is to minimize crime and harm to the community which may arise due to substance use. This pillar works within the police, criminal justice, probation and parole systems to preserve community peace, order and safety. This pillar supports clients released from custody and advocates for their protection with providing supportive housing and case management models.
Centre on Drug Policy Evaluation.(2019). Toronto’s Drug Checking Service. Health Canada and St. Michael’s Hospital Foundation. Retrieved from https://cdpe.org/project/drug-checking-services/
Fleming, T., Barker, A., Ivsins, A., Vakharia, S. and McNeil, R. (2020). Stimulant safe supply: a potential opportunity to respond to the overdose epidemic. Harm Reduct J, 17(6), https://doi.org/10.1186/s12954-019-0351-1
Wellington Guelph Drug Strategy. (2017-2022). Blueprint for Action: Wellington Guelph Drug Strategy (WGDS) Strategic plan 2017-2022. Retrieved from http://wgdrugstrategy.ca/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/WGDS-Strat-Plan-Jan-17-V5.pdf