Quinte West council received an update on the state of addictions care in the region during Wednesday’s council meeting.
Brandi Hodge, executive director of United Way Hastings and Prince Edward, spoke to councilors about ongoing work to establish better addictions care in both Quinte West and the surrounding area.
The presentation included an update on the increasing number of drug-related incidents in the region. Hastings-Quinte Paramedics responded to 90 calls for drug poisoning in one week in 2023, up from the previous norm of five to ten 10 calls per week. At the same time, there is a lack of treatment options for addictions, with 14 attempts to secure funding for addictions treatment by regional health providers being denied over the last 10 years. Opioid deaths are on the rise, and are currently 67% higher in Hastings-Prince Edward than in Ottawa, Toronto North Bay, and Hamilton.
Since the recent increase in addictions problems, requests have been made to the province to fund treatment options. During meetings with Premier Doug Ford and Minister of Mental Health and Addictions Michael Tibollo, it was said that no new funding would be provided without a plan for a full spectrum of addiction services. A comprehensive plan was developed and submitted to the province in April of 2024.
The plan submitted included outreach teams, The Bridge services hub, and integrated healthcare services.
Hodge said that the province still hasn’t responded to the funding request.
“Today, the combined 180,000 residents within Hastings and Prince Edward, including those here in Quinte West, remain without access to essential Addictions and Mental Health Services,” said Hodge. “We are entering a new cycle of proposals submitted, proposals unfunded and new proposals submitted, and we need to break that cycle.”
The presentation concluded with a call to push the province to approve the funding application, so that work can continue on building addictions and mental health care services in the region.
Council accepted the deputation, but took no action at this time.
