A public health nurse with the Huron County Health Unit says alcohol abuse still kills more people and does more damage than any of the drugs commonly used today, but when it comes to opioids, Michelle Carter says things have changed.
"When it comes to opioids specifically, over the last two years the landscape has changed significantly. Something like fentanyl is readily available anywhere across the province and the addiction pace is real. It is present here in Huron as well."
Carter says there is a definite relationship between mental health and addiction, and in some cases it can be trauma-based and self-medicating with drugs that can be a coping strategy.
"The mental health and addiction supports are very important and getting people to supports, or even to the stage that they're willing to identify, OK I'm willing to talk with someone. And that's a very beginning step, it doesn't mean that everybody's gonna say, no, I'm never gonna use drugs again."
She adds getting them to use the supports that are available is very important.
