Public Health Sudbury & Districts has released its latest numbers of opioid overdoses and the agency says the situation is not improving.
The health unit states Greater Sudbury Paramedic Services responded to 492 suspected opioid-related incidents over the last six months, an increase of 51 percent over the same period last year.
Dr. Tara Leary, lead physician at the Rapid Access Addiction Medicine Clinic, says the clinic has been in place six years, but there is still so much work to do, especially with the pandemic situation exacerbating the situation.
She adds there has been a positive change in the stigma surrounding mental illness and addiction, but the worsening toxic illicit substances being sold on the street is affecting the numbers.
She hopes there will be more funding for street-level treatment programs, mental health supports for addicts and affordable housing.
Meanwhile, the clinic will continue working towards alleviating the pain and suffering and help more people beat their addictions.
