With 15 opioid-related deaths in Haliburton County between 2019-2023, it’s hoped a new County of Haliburton program can reduce overdose harms across the Highlands.
The County has secured a nearly $1.2 million federal government grant to offer outreach to vulnerable populations.
Haliburton County Paramedic Service director, Michael Slatter, and director of community outreach, Sue Tiffin, spoke about the successful federal grant application at an April 22 County council meeting.
It’s for a substance use and addictions program emergency treatment fund (ETF).
They said $1,176,390 has been approved towards eligible expenditures, including an outreach van, safety equipment, medical supplies, and staffing support and training, during the fiscal year 2026-2027. The start is backdated to April 1.
Sustainability of the program from April 1, 2027 and onward will rely on budgetary approval by County council.
Slatter said Haliburton County currently has a collaborative community mobile outreach program “within which this project can build on.”
Tiffin added that, according to Lakelands Public Health, the region has experienced a higher hospitalization rate for drug poisoning than the provincial average, with fentanyl involved in 86 per cent of opioid-related deaths in 2023.
‘Mobile outreach programs are essential in filling service gaps’
“Although Haliburton County reported fewer deaths in 2024 compared to previous years, the unpredictability and toxicity of the unregulated drug supply continue to pose a significant threat to community health.” She mentioned the 15 opioid-related deaths in the County from 2019-2023, according to Lakelands Public Health, in a joint written report with Slatter.
Slatter said the crisis is compounded by geographic isolation, limited access to health care services, and social stigma, all discouraging people from seeking help and making it difficult to deliver timely interventions.
In 2022, the County relied on a single addictions’ worker. Since June 2023, it’s built a larger outreach program with numerous partners offering on-site support with community paramedicine services, harm reduction services, income tax, heat and hydro programs, housing and homelessness services, literacy and employment programs, support with food insecurity, and mental health and addiction services.
Slatter said, “the idea is we’ll still continue with the clinics that are run regularly throughout the County, but add a mobile component. The idea is to reach vulnerable populations throughout the County as a whole, seven days a week.
“The idea is to attend in locations where people who use drugs might congregate. The team would be available to follow up with people who have had an event whether they go to the hospital or not. The goal is to bring services to them and provide care and support in their environment.”
Acute need
Tiffin said research from the Wellington Guelph drug strategy highlights that mobile outreach programs are essential in filling service gaps, especially in remote areas. She added these programs provide low-barrier access to harm reduction supplies, health services, and peer support, often reaching individuals who are disconnected from traditional health-care systems.
By deploying a unit in all weather, Haliburton County Paramedic Services, “will be able to reach individuals of all ages where they are, provide culturally-safe and trauma-informed care, and reduce overdose-related harms in a timely and effective manner,” Tiffin said.
They’ll draw on the experience of other municipalities running a similar service. Tiffin and Slatter said they’ll get help from the University of Western Ontario Centre for Education Research & Innovation (CERI). The centre has experience in doing research on outreach programs, including the Supportive Outreach Services (SOS) program operated by Grey County. That program offers a range of life-saving interventions, such as overdose reversal, mental health support, addiction support services, distribution of naloxone and other harm reduction items.
Naloxone is a fast-acting, life-saving medication used to temporarily reverse opioid overdoses. It works within minutes, restoring breathing, and is available as a nasal spray or injection, often without a prescription.
CAO Gary Dyke said it was a significant achievement for the County and its partner municipalities. Slatter said they were one of 10 successful applicants from 400.
Coun. Bob Carter said he hoped funding can be secured as the program continues past the grant period. However, he said for now they were addressing an “unmet need both with drugs and mental health. This is going to be money well spent, and money that needs to be spent to protect our community.”
