National summit to take place in Timmins, Ont., to address substance use crisis

Substance use in public spaces and thousands of deaths due to overdoses across the country are challenging many communities – including smaller cities and several northern Ontario communities.

Teens and young adults in Ontario are dying at higher rates from opioids, but accessing treatments less, a new report shows. Prescription pills containing oxycodone and acetaminophen are shown in Toronto, Ont., on Dec. 23, 2017. (Graeme Roy/The Canadian Press)

The Canadian Centre on Substance Use and Addiction – based in Ottawa, Ont. – is hosting a first-of-its-kind national summit in Timmins, Ont., from Sept. 5 to 6.

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“It's possible to have a healthier community and a safe community,” said Dr. Alexander Caudarella, the centre’s CEO.

“It just means finding the right delivery system. It means prioritizing what communities want and it means people often coming together across sectors and working together much more closely than they've been able to before.”

He told CTV News that he thinks that safer, healthier communities are possible – but cities deserve to be “in the driver seat” when it comes to addressing certain issues.

Canadian Centre on Substance Use and Addiction CEO Dr. Alexander Caudarella speaks with CTV News Northern Ontario ahead of the centre's 'Timmins Summit' to be held September 5 & 6, 2024, to address the challenges smaller cities faces when it comes to the substance use crisis. (Lydia Chubak/CTV News Nothern Ontario)

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The national summit will take place at the Best Western Premier Northwood Hotel on Airport Road – however, the general public is not invited.

The event’s organizers said have asked municipal leaders and representatives from across the country from various sectors – including health care, law enforcement and housing – to a community that is struggling to address what have become nationwide issues.

“We're thrilled to have representatives from municipalities in Alberta, B.C. and Manitoba; and even in the Arctic,” said Caudarella.

“The only requirement really was a vested interest in improving their community and being a community of approximately 50,000 and 150,000 people. That was the group that we felt was really suffering but overlooked and Timmins falls well in there.”

Caudarella said the Timmins Summit is just the beginning of a multiphase initiative to work with communities to develop evidence-based options to help municipalities manage the substance use crisis.

Safe Health Site Timmins opened July 4, 2022, in response to 'a significant increase in opioid-related deaths in our community,' officials said. (CTV News Northern Ontario/File Photo)

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The Canadian Centre on Substance Use and Addiction was created by parliament to provide national leadership to address substance use issues across the country.