Opioid overdoses and the deaths they cause are a growing problem in Canada, and in the Quinte region.
At its meeting today, the Southeast Local Health Integration Network Board of Directors will be asked to approve an overarching strategy to deal with a life and death issue that has spurred a sudden burst of alarming media reports.
The Quinte region has the fastest growing opioid problem in this part of Ontario.
Our area leads second place Kingston in the number of hospital visits and emergency department visits spurred by problems with opioids.
The illegal and powerful painkiller Fentanyl is at the root of the problem, and is available on the street mixed with cocaine, marijuana, and other drugs.
