Addictions

Overview

Addictions and substance use issues was the top research theme uncovered in the literature review and was the top community risk identified in both the focus group consultations and the public survey. The community of North Bay had recognized the need for increased addiction programming and services as evidenced through many local reports and studies.

In 2019/20, there was an increase in service use with regards to alcohol and drug assessment compared to previous years, alluding to the need for more services to continue to meet the needs of people who use services (Community Counselling Centre of Nipissing, 2019). Notably, there are many waitlists for addiction services in North Bay; both the addictions residential treatment beds on King St. and the North Bay Recovery Home’s residential beds are waitlisted (Ontario Health Coalition, 2020). The literature reviewed frequently identified substance use and addictions as a barrier to finding housing and a top-three risk factor locally (District of Nipissing Social Services Administration Board 2019; Gateway Hub, 2018).

To continue, the opioid epidemic in Ontario has reached new heights; from January 2019 to September 2019, one person in Ontario died every 4.7 hours from opioids (Ontario Provincial Police, 2020). In the North Bay Parry Sound region, the rate of opioid-related emergency department visits among the 25 to 44 years of age demographic was notably higher than the provincial rate between 2013 and 2017 (North Bay Parry Sound District Health Unit, 2018).

Students in the North Bay Parry Sound District used more illegal drugs in 2011 than the provincial average (Saad, 2013). Notably, students in the North Bay Parry Sound District also consumed significantly more alcohol (64.2%) than the provincial average (54.9%), and a higher percentage of male students reported using cannabis in the last year (2010/11 & 2014/15 combined) compared to male students in other northern regions and Ontario (North Bay Parry Sound District Health Unit, 2017). It is important to recognize, the City of North Bay has higher rates of substance use and addictions, when compared to the provincial average.

Addictions was also the most identified risk and was stated in 9 of 10 focus group sessions. Participants noted gaps in mental health and addiction services. Specifically, service capacity, length of addiction programs, timely access to mental health and addiction programs due to lengthy waitlists, the need for additional psychiatric care, and an improved needle disposal program. Participants also added that police are conducting work outside of their typical duty (i.e. mental health and addictions) and that this was a concern. The impact of COVID-19 has also had a negative impact on addictions and  has affected the general population through negative effects in mental health and happiness and a rise in addictions and substance use.

Addictions/substance misuse was the most frequently mentioned issue affecting community safety and well-being in North Bay within the public survey. The major noted reasons for addictions affecting safety and wellness in the city are drug use, the finding of needles around the city, and unpleasant behaviors associated with addictions. The reference to drugs and addictions appears most frequently in the survey comments section as well. The respondents recognize addictions as a major problem and issue in the city with negative impacts in other areas such as safety, health, crime, the physical environment, and local business.

Outcomes:

• Addictions response matches the need: individuals are receiving the right response at the
  right time by the right service provider.
• The demand for incident responses and acute care resources is reduced relative to the
  supports provided at the onset of addictions.
• Risks to community safety in the area of addictions are addressed without the use of
  emergency resources where possible.

Performance Measures:

• Addiction program waitlists.
• Nipissing Parry Sound Overdose Incident Report.
• Hospital/ ER data.
• Local police, emergency medical services, and fire services data.