Until May 15 area residents are being asked for their input for an online survey related to substance abuse in Haliburton County.

According to a press release the survey is asking respondents to share the “harms associated with drug and alcohol use in the community and what the priorities should be to help address those issues.”

The release continues it’s the first step in a regional drug strategy for the areas of Haliburton County the City of Kawartha Lakes and Northumberland County. This strategy is focusing on four main areas: drug use prevention harm reduction treatment and justice/enforcement. There are close to 50 organizations involved in this strategy. This includes representation by police services fire departments EMS personnel health unit staff treatment services pharmacists family health teams youth and social service agencies mental health groups and other non-profit groups. The overall effort is being funded with a $285000 Ontario Trillium Foundation grant.

Marg Cox the executive director of A Point in Time said the survey is all about gathering information and this isn’t about shaming anyone.

It’s part of an effort to bring change and help.

“It’s not really about wanting anybody to feel shame or blame. It’s really about trying to understand what’s going on so together we can help chart a path of change” she said.

Find the survey at  www.hkprdrugstrategy.ca.

This online survey promises respondents anonymity. Every contributor is being assured their IP address is not linked back to them. Cox hopes people will be encouraged to participate because of this anonymity.

She welcomes feedback above and beyond the online survey.

This online survey promises respondents anonymity. Every contributor is being assured their IP address is not linked back to them. Cox hopes people will be encouraged to participate because of this anonymity.

She welcomes feedback above and beyond the online survey.

For those suffering they are welcome to reach out to the drug strategy group with questions or concerns she adds.

Cox has been with the agency for 10 years and says there isn’t data related to the number of people affected by addiction.

This doesn’t negate the community’s obligation to help its residents.

“Just because you don’t have hard numbers doesn’t mean you can ignore what you know is a general trend. It would probably be unethical to wait for ‘hard numbers’ in order to do that” she said. “When you speak with police. When you speak with probation [officers]. When you get a handle on some of the issues that people who come through the doors of our agency and other sister agencies have you know there is an issue out there.”

The hope is the survey’s findings reveal the kind of help needed in our area.

“What we’re really trying to find is what people are struggling with and what kind of support they’d like to see and help make changes in their lives” she said.

Substance abuse can be connected to poverty isolation transportation high cost of food and lack of housing. Individuals use alcohol or drugs to cope with the related stress.

In conversations with her staff the common theme is that life is getting tougher whether that is unemployment or job insecurity or the steady rising costs of living. With less disposable income people don’t have the money for vehicle ownership which makes it harder to seek help or socialize. It can lead to isolation and increase risk factors for disease. The greater stress could lead people to use alcohol and drugs to cope. The newest trend the last several years she said is children and youth becoming substance abusers.

“It’s a concern in young people but also for parents and adults as well. Again anecdotally from staff and people in the community there are some significant issues in our county” she said.

With social and recreation outlets she said there is data that says people are less likely to turn to alcohol or drugs.

“It’s easy for people to say ‘that person drinks too much or oh they’re a drug user’ whatever … their struggles are more than just say no to drugs” she said.

Cox said the survey’s success isn’t necessarily related to a specific number of respondents as much as the quality of their responses for change.

“I would hope more than three people fill it out but if we heard from three people and those people shared their ideas and helped give us information to move forward” she said. “Maybe as a community we could help change the trajectory of their lives. I would find that worthwhile.”

Although the issue has not improved in the decade Cox has been at A Point in Time she is buoyed by the implementation of the strategy.

“The fact that people are willing to come together to start talking about something that we all know is an issue it gives me great hope and optimism” she said.