New Kettle & Stony Point treatment program aims to address opioid crisis

The chief of Kettle and Stony Point First Nation says a new land-based treatment program is expected to launch this summer.

A pre-strategic planning information session was held at Olive's Casual Cuisine in Sarnia on Monday, where attendees heard presentations about opioid use and possible healing and recovery options.

Chief Kimberly Bressette said Associate Minister of Mental Health and Addictions MPP Michael Tibollo attended the meeting to offer continued support.

A provincial representative told Sarnia News Today that Tibollo highlighted how in this year's budget, the government renewed the Addictions Recovery Fund for an additional three years, meaning the land-based program previously funded as a pilot project will be able to continue for those years.

Bressette said the drug treatment program is expected to start in July and will be operated by Community Mental Health and Addiction Services.

"It's really exciting, there's a lot of cultural components to it," she said. 

Once the program begins, Bressette said intake could be up to 30 people at a time.

The chief also said Tibollo expressed his commitment to supporting other programs as well.

"What we're doing now in our community is just pulling funding from wherever we can, different pots within the community," she said. "But he did commit today... if we send plans in and numbers for what we're dealing with because it is on the rise, he is committed to supporting those programs financially, so that's great news."

Last year, Kettle and Stony Point unveiled its new mental health and addictions facility.

"This is a huge issue within our community," Bressette said. "We're seeing more deaths and more overdoses lately, especially in the younger people, so this is a really important issue that we're working hard to address."

While in Sarnia, Tibollo also met with the Rotary Club of Sarnia.

The club said members spoke to the associate minister about local efforts to address homelessness and the connection to mental health issues and opioid use.

“We’re grateful he came to our community and I think he liked what he heard,” said Rotarian Michael John Kooy in a media release. “It’s all about combining permanent housing with appropriate levels of medical and social support so that folks experiencing homelessness and addictions have a path from crisis to stability. And that seems to align with the Province’s approach.” 

Brian Mundt (left), Heather Martin, MPP Bob Bailey, MPP Michael Tibollo, Michael John Kooy, and John DeGroot. April 22, 2024. (Submitted photo by Anthony Rizzetto)