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Ontario Mental Health and Addictions Organizations Respond to Fentanyl Czar Announcement

5th Feb 2025 AMHO News

(Toronto, Feb. 5, 2025) — With the federal government’s announcement of a new ‘fentanyl czar’, community mental health and addictions organizations in Ontario are urging provincial leaders in the election campaign to commit to greater measures to address the root causes of the drug poisoning crisis which continues to ravage Ontario communities.

Opioid overdose rates have skyrocketed in Ontario since 2019, with approximately one opioid related death occurring every three hours. The rise in deaths has been largely attributed to the availability of unregulated opioids like fentanyl. Close to 80 per cent of opioid toxicity involved fentanyl, at a rate that has doubled since 2016.

“This week’s announcement that Canada will redouble its efforts to stem the flow of fentanyl and other unregulated drugs into our communities is welcomed news,” said Jennifer Holmes Weier, CEO, Addictions and Mental Health Ontario (AMHO). “These efforts must include a commitment to increase investments in the people and programs which help our communities be well. Individuals cannot transition from crisis to care if they are unable to access the community based addictions, mental health, and supportive housing services they need, when and where they need them.”

Research shows that 60 per cent of people who died from opioid toxicity are employed and one third of these people work in the construction industry. Rates of opioid-related hospitalizations and deaths are higher among workers in the construction, mining, oil and gas sectors.

“To permanently end this crisis, there must be greater investment in community mental health and addictions services, alongside affordable and supportive housing,” said Camille Quenneville, CEO, Canadian Mental Health Association (CMHA), Ontario. “To address the underlying mental health challenges faced by many individuals who use unregulated drugs, including fentanyl, we need substantial investments by our provincial leadership to ensure we have adequate support on the ground.”

Party leaders have yet to outline their platforms on mental health and addictions on the campaign trail. A CMHA Ontario poll last year showed that more than eight in 10 Ontarians would prefer solutions to these issues focused on health care and social services support, rather than punishment through the criminal justice system.

FAST FACTS:

  • The toxic drug supply has resulted in between 2,500 and 3,000 opioid toxicity deaths in Ontario each year.
  • Communities in northern Ontario continue to have opioid-related mortality rates around twice as high as the provincial average.
  • Research shows most opioid-related deaths which occur in a private residence are related to fentanyl. The substance has also directly contributed to more than 90 per cent of opioid related deaths among construction workers alone.
  • Ontario’s community mental health and addictions sector is recommending a $300 million investment over the next three years to address the health human resource challenges and service gaps faced by the sector.

About Canadian Mental Health Association, Ontario
Canadian Mental Health Association (CMHA), Ontario is a not-for-profit, charitable organization funded by the provincial government. We work to improve the lives of all Ontarians through leadership, collaboration and continual pursuit of excellence in community-based mental health and addictions services. Our vision is a society that embraces and invests in the mental health of all people. We are a trusted advisor to government, contributing to health systems development through policy formulation and recommendations that promote positive mental health.

About Addictions and Mental Health Ontario
Addictions and Mental Health Ontario (AMHO) represents over 150 organizations that provide front-line substance use, addiction, and mental health support and services. AMHO members support Ontarians through their mental health and substance use challenges by providing community-based treatment, including counselling, structured psychotherapy, case management, withdrawal management, live-in addictions treatment, peer support, harm reduction supports, and supportive housing.

 

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For more information, contact:

David Turnbull
Director, Public Affairs
david.turnbull@amho.ca

 


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