From cbc.ca
Ontario Health Minister Eric Hoskins says the provincial government will invest $222 million over three years to improve access to harm reduction services amid an opioid crisis in the province.
"This is a public health crisis, provincially and nationally," Hoskins told reporters at St. Michael's Hospital in Toronto on Monday.
Hoskins said he, along with Ontario Premier Kathleen Wynne, are "stricken" by the crisis and the number of overdose deaths related to opioid use in the province in recent months.
The announcement comes a day after more than 700 health care workers called on Wynne in an open letter to declare a provincial emergency due to a "disturbing" increase in overdose deaths.
Hoskins said the funding will be used to hire more front-line harm-reduction workers, expand the supply of naloxone, and create new rapid access addiction clinics. Naxolone is medication used to block the effects of opioids.
Dr. David Williams, chief medical officer of health and provincial overdose co-ordinator, said the crisis is "complex and multi-faceted."
Williams said the opioid crisis is found throughout the province and the response will be adapted to each community.
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