OXFORD UNVEILS NEW DRUG STRATEGY

Oxford County has a problem and its name is substance abuse.

That's the bad news.

The good news is the problem isn't any worse here than elsewhere in
the province, but that, according to Oxford County Drug Task Force, is
no reason to sit back or accept the status quo.

After months of planning and consulting, the task force has unveiled
its plan to address the problem with the release of its new strategic
plan, A Way Forward.

The landmark strategy to stop substance abuse brings together more
than 50 service providers and agencies in the effort to prevent, treat
and raise awareness of substance abuse.

Oxford's plan is distinctive in Ontario not only because of the level
of collaboration among so many partners, but also because it
recognizes the need to be proactive before a crisis occurs.

"The critical issue here is not that Oxford County experiences
substance abuse to a greater degree, or has a serious deficit in
services, but that its service providers, community stakeholders and
residents have decided that the impacts of substance abuse are so dire
that the status quo is not good enough," says Annamaria Feltracco,
OCDTF's consultant and research lead.

Task force chair Jason Smith said drug use is not just a big city
problem, it is everywhere, including Oxford County, and that's why the
task force partners believe "we can make a powerful impact in the
lives of individuals, their families, and in the neighbourhoods in
which we all live, work and play."

The ultimate vision of the task force is to see a community that is
free of the problems and harmful effects associated with substance
abuse.

As such, their mission is to "work collaboratively to improve the
overall health of Oxford County residents and to protect communities
from harm related to substance use.

"Our efforts are focused on strengthening and co-ordinating
prevention, education, public awareness, early intervention,
treatment, harm reduction and enforcement services within Oxford County."

OCDTF began its work more than a year ago. Since then they have worked
with professionals, the community at large and more than 3,000
students across the county to gather information and formulate their
plan.

Their main goals are:

1. Implement a comprehensive strategy

2. Identify substance abuse prevention as key to a sustainable
community

3. Get sustainable resources

4. Advocate for co-ordinated services, increased communication and
harmonized action

5. Address service gaps and maximize services

6. Provide information and support

7. Build awareness

8. Provide a continuum of enforcement options

The Task force has established three working groups to deal with
prevention, treatment and enforcement.

Community information sessions will be held in all municipalities,
including Tillsonburg and Norwich, starting next year.

In its report, the task force estimates the financial impact of drug
abuse in Oxford at about $122 million annually. Admittedly an
estimate, the numbers includes all costs, from health care expenses
resulting from short and long-term effects of drug use, to police
enforcement (crime to get drugs or resulting from substance abuse) and
lost productivity.

The task force has found that more than 1,000 people in Oxford County
are known by police to be substance abusers, "but many, many more
abuse substances but still function in society and thus remain unnoticed."

The public heard from one such person, Rick, who had the courage to
talk about his story in public during the launch event last week.

Rick said he was not a happy person and took drugs to numb
himself.

"I used drugs to make me feel good about myself. There was always
something wrong, something missing in my life until I found dope."

Rick was fully functioning, "I had a house, kids, a dog, but I don't
remember some of those years very well, I was always high.

"But I faked it well and few people knew."

Fortunately, Rick has beaten drugs, he has found God and is using the
12-Step program, a set of guiding principles outlining a course of
action for recovery from addiction, compulsion, or other behavioral
problems.

He told the audience he still feels bad, but he is OK with those
feelings now.

"What I did affected a lot of people, but I never thought about that
nor did I care. I also want people to know that the 12-step program is
not a punishment, it really helps."

He said he was incredibly nervous about speaking about his problems in
public, but said he did it because if it helps just one person then it
is worth it.

The task force's strategy will use the four pillars of health
promotion (prevention, treatment, harm reduction and enforcement) to
focus efforts on target audiences based on their needs.

And because substance abuse is a costly societal issue that is not
restricted by age, socioeconomic status or gender, their approach will
be wide and community based.

"It is an issue that crosses many sectors - education, social
services, health and enforcement. Likewise, the impact of substance
abuse on individuals and the community is pervasive - it affects not
just individual health and well-being, but the community's health and
well-being as well," the report stated.