Developing a community drug strategy rarely follows a neat, step-by-step plan. Often, urgent needs demand immediate action, leaving little time for lengthy strategy sessions.
Take Belleville, Ontario, for example. Last year, the ongoing opioid-use problem escalated into a sudden surge of drug poisonings forcing the community to declare a state of emergency. In response, local partners swiftly mobilized, launching immediate actions while simultaneously initiating community consultations.
These consultations provided crucial insights into the situation. In consideration of these findings, existing efforts, and best practices, South East Health Unit (formerly Hastings Prince Edward Public Health) partnered with Collective Results to develop a comprehensive drug strategy.
Our approach centred on the four pillars of the Canadian Drugs and Substances Strategy. Collective Results worked closely with the public health unit to define strategic goals and objectives across each pillar. The draft strategy was then presented to a steering committee for review and endorsement.
The next phase focuses on implementation. The community will begin by identifying existing initiatives and gaps. This will help to define the role of the community drug strategy and prioritize a few key actions that are both feasible and impactful for the community.
Need help with your own community drug strategy?
Collective Results specializes in developing effective and actionable strategies. We utilize best practices and human-centered design principles to ensure your strategy is relevant and achievable. We understand that a strategy is only as good as its implementation. That’s why we focus on creating plans that can be put into action, not just left to gather dust on a shelf.
Contact us today to learn more about how we can support your community’s efforts.
From South East Health Unit: The constantly changing context of our community has required a very flexible approach to create a relevant, yet actionable, community drug strategy. Collective Results maintained a high level of professionalism throughout the process and was quick to adapt to the changes that were brought forward. We cannot thank them enough for their expertise in helping to organize the overarching strategies of this multi-sector work.
