The Community Drug & Alcohol Strategy (formerly the Grey Bruce Task Force on Crystal Meth) is made up of over 30 local agencies and community members from across the two counties. The group recently released its first strategic plan and launched a website as part of an ongoing effort to raise awareness about how communities can work together to reduce the harms associated with substance use.

“It’s time we start looking at substance use and addiction as a health issue, not a moral one”, says Alison Govier, Coordinator of the Community Drug & Alcohol Strategy. “Stigma plays a big role in preventing people from reaching out for help. That’s why we need a coordinated, compassionate community response that focuses on reducing barriers to overall health and wellbeing”, adds Alison.

The strategy is unique in that it brings together partners from the areas of health, housing, justice, policing, education, treatment, harm reduction and social services, as well as people with lived experience of addiction. Working groups carry out issue specific projects, all aimed at reducing substance related harms. To learn more about the work of the Community Drug & Alcohol Strategy, visit www.drugstrategy.org or contact Alison Govier, [email protected].

source: media release