The Northern Ontario Service Deliverers Association (NOSDA) says the region is in the middle of a public health crisis related to opioids.
They’re looking for provincial action.
With multiple ministries impacted, NOSDA is calling on the Premier to take an all-government approach to manage and find solutions.
They also want a Northern Ontario Joint Partnership table to manage the crisis in the region.
The association says northern Ontario has seen the number of opioid deaths far exceed those related to the COVID-19 pandemic.
“The deaths related to COVID are tragic and have been felt across Northern Ontario, the Mental Health and Addictions Crisis is devastating to communities because of the lack of access to Mental Health and Addictions resources and appropriate treatment centres in Northern Ontario,” states a NOSDA release.
The Nipissing Parry Sound Online Overdose Reporting System shows 23 overdose-related deaths this year, as of July 26th.
There were 24 deaths in all of 2020.
