A committee of over 30 people from the non-profit, private and public sectors have been actively working together to address substance use harms in Renfrew County and District. The team is embracing the call to action from Ontario’s Chief Medical Officer of Health, Dr. Kieran Moore, who stated in his recent Annual Report “substance use cannot be addressed by the health sector alone and I call for collaboration between communities, all levels of government, health and social services, the public health sector, the healthcare system and Ontario residents.”
The Renfrew County and District Drug Strategy (RCDDS) Steering Committee is pleased to highlight some of the achievements of our partners in 2024. This is thanks to the coordinated and collective action of everyone involved.
Mobile Substance Use Services
The County of Renfrew launched Mesa in 2024 to provide compassionate care in the community. It has continued to evolve to address the needs of community members experiencing homelessness, addictions and mental health issues.
A successful proposal to Health Canada’s Substance Use and Addictions Program will result in $1.8M of funding to Mackay Manor for a Renfrew County Mobile Substance Use Service project. This service will expand access to Mesa services for harm reduction, substance use case management, system navigation, housing, opioid agonist therapy, wound care, drug testing and virtual consultations. The integrated mobile substance use service will be staffed by a paramedic, social worker, peer support worker and Elders/Traditional Knowledge Keepers.
Homelessness and Addictions Recovery Treatment (HART) Hub Proposal
Members of the treatment pillar of the RCDDS submitted a proposal to support the creation of a Homelessness and Addiction Recovery Treatment (HART) Hub for Renfrew County and District. If successful, the HART hub will increase local treatment and supportive housing resources while further integrating referral pathways for individuals with complex needs.
Naloxone Distribution
Distribution of life-saving naloxone kits was significantly increased in 2024 through the Ontario Take-Home Naloxone Program, with the number of participating partners doubling since 2023. Training to administer naloxone was also increased significantly in 2024 through expanded outreach efforts to service more rural areas of the county. Increased availability of naloxone and training in its proper use are crucial to allow
individuals to reverse opioid overdoses and save lives.
Social Media Campaigns
Two campaigns were launched. One related to anti-stigma highlighted the importance of showing compassion to people who use drugs as well as the negative impact stigma has on people who use drugs, including their ability to access care and treatment. The second campaign promoted the Brave App that connects people, who would
otherwise use drugs alone, with remote supervision and overdose support, while protecting their privacy, anonymity and independence.
Next Steps
An initial report outlining strategic priorities for the drug strategy across the four pillars of prevention, treatment, harm reduction, and community safety will be released early this year. Community consultation is critical to inform the development of the strategy. All community members are invited to complete the Community Engagement Survey.
Indicators of drug-related harms across the community are updated quarterly on the Substance Use-Related Harms in Renfrew County and District Dashboard maintained by the Renfrew County and District Health Unit.
More information about the RCDDS can be found at www.rcdhu.com/rcdds
Renfrew County and District Health Unit; Ottawa Valley Ontario Health Team(2025,Jan.13) Renfrew County and District Drug Strategy: Progress Update and Next Steps to Address Drug-related Harms [media release]