Drug Strategy News

Posted On Thursday, August 15, 2024

Key MessagingDrug Poisoning Awareness Day, or International Overdose Awareness Day, is observed annually on August 31st as a day of remembrance for those who have died from preventable drug poisonings (overdoses). Canada continues to experience unrelenting rates of drug poisonings and drug poisoning deaths, largely due to the toxic drug supply. In Waterloo Region over 817 people have died from suspected drug poisoning since 2018.
This year on Drug Poisoning Awareness Day the Waterloo Region...

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Posted On Thursday, July 25, 2024

Drug Poisoning Awareness Day 2024International Overdose Awareness Day (IOAD) is observed annually on August 31 st and is internationally recognized as a day of remembrance for individuals that have died from overdose.
This year the Waterloo Region Integrated Drugs Strategy is hosting two Drug Poisoning Awareness events:
Kitchener – August 21 st , 2024 – 5:30 p.m. – 7:30 p.m. – Willow River Park (formerly Victoria Park)
Cambridge – August 27 th , 2024 – 11:30...

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Posted On Friday, July 05, 2024

The Overdose Monitoring Alert and Response System (OMARS) is issuing a Community Drug Alert for Waterloo Region.
 From June 28 to July 4, there was an increased number of reported overdoses/ drug poisonings, with 41 reported cases, and 4 suspected drug-related deaths.
The unregulated drug supply is unpredictable and unexpected reactions may occur. The Kitchener CTS Drug Checking Program has detected samples of Flubromazolam AKA “Liquid Xanax”, Xylazine,...

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Posted On Tuesday, June 18, 2024

The Overdose Monitoring Alert and Response System (OMARS) is issuing a Community Drug Alert for Waterloo Region.
From June 12 to June 17, 2024 there have been five suspected drug-related deaths.
The unregulated drug supply is unpredictable and unexpected reactions may occur.
Hot and humid conditions are expected through most of the week. There can be increased risk of death from drug toxicity during very hot weather. A list of cooling space locations and hours...

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Posted On Tuesday, April 23, 2024

The Waterloo Region Integrated Drugs Strategy Steering Committee is releasing our official statement in support of the Canadian Drug Policy Coalition's Open Letter: Supervised Consumption Services site closures due to lack of funding from the Ministry of Health .
Supervised consumption services (SCS) are evidence-based lifesaving health services for people who use drugs and need to be recognized as an integral part of Ontario's publicly funded healthcare system. The WRIDS...

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