Input from local service providers gathered from the Windsor-Essex Community Substance Use Programs and Services Survey and best practices from other community drug strategies were incorporated to develop the Proposed Action Plan: Windsor-Essex Community Opioid Strategy. The proposed action plan consisted of a set of strategies under each of the four pillars and was anchored by one core strategy related to public health surveillance and monitoring. These strategies were proposed to complement existing services and fill gaps in programming across all four pillars.
The Proposed Action Plan: Windsor-Essex Community Opioid Strategy (see Appendix B) included the following:
- Enhance monitoring activities and use of overdose data across sectors.
- Increase public awareness about opioid misuse, diversion, and overdose prevention through public awareness campaigns.
- Increase provider and patient education on opioid use and managing chronic pain.
- Improve overdose prevention education, training, and services.
- Increase access to naloxone through changes in practice and policy.
- Develop a local evidence-based harm reduction framework, including increased access to harm reduction services and supplies.
- Increase treatment options and ensure people can access appropriate services when they need them.
- Collaborate across law enforcement agencies to develop a consistent approach to address overdose scenes and diversion activities.