Resources
Resources, videos, campaign materials, and links are added to this page as needed. If you have something you would like shared on this page, please let us know!
Local resources
Integrated Care Hub rapid needs assessment
In 2021 Kingston's Integrated Care Hub conducted a needs assessment to better understand the needs of clients who use substances and develop recommendations for systemic change. The report outlines six recommendations to inform collaborative problem solving and program design across sectors.
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The Integrated Care Hub rapid needs assessment: synopsis of recommendations
The Integrated Care Hub rapid needs assessment synopsis of recommendations provides a summary of new assumptions gained from the needs assessment and proposes some recommendations to begin addressing them.
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Policy brief submitted to the KFL&A Public Health Board - April 26, 2021
This policy brief advocates to try to meet the needs of people who use substances.
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Drug decriminalization and destigmatization
Developed for Queen's Medicine Municipal Day of Action 2022 (MDoA). MDoA is a student led initiative that provides individuals with the opportunity to organize and present a topic of concern regarding public health and/or health policy to the local Kingston municipal government. Below are the asks:
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Apply for a Section 56 Exemption for the City of Kingston
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Explore and address stigma surrounding people who use substances and drug decriminalization by conducting community dialogues that will be used to guide future educational campaigns focusing on destigmatization and any identified gaps in knowledge.
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Support the creation of a memorial butterfly garden in memory of those lost to substance use or toxic drug poisoning where in a designated piece of property is allocated that is accessible to the most vulnerable in our community (i.e. centrally located, properly maintained).
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Students created the visual to the right here to share an overview of the harms of drug criminalization.
Stigma and education resources
Resources for community members
Overcoming stigma through language: A primer
Language impacts the way people see themselves and how they are treated. Stigmatizing language around substance use often implies that related harms are due to personal choice or moral failing of the individual.
When speaking about substance use, try using person-first and objective language such as:​
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person who uses drugs
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person with lived experience of substance use
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substance use disorder
Reflecting on stigma worksheet
Developed by the Community Addictions Peer Support Association, this worksheet provides reflective prompts to support community members ability to understand substance use related stigma.
Understanding Substance Use Health: A matter of equity
The purpose of this resource is to introduce a new concept of substance use health that meets the needs of people where they are and is free of stigma. To achieve equitable access to healthcare programs, services, and supports and evidence-based information related to substance use health and substance use disorder.
This resource aims to:
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Define substance use health through a newly established common understanding and standard;
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Inform a national conversation on how substance use health can destigmatize substance use and substance use disorder (SUD) and advance health system-level innovation in the care of clients and the treatment of individuals; and
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Establish the All People All Pathways approach as a public health model that is barrier-free, client partnered and works within a spectrum model of Substance Use Health.
Community Addictions Peer Support Association - YouTube channel
Media resources
Stigma primer for journalists
This resource provides a guide to better reporting on substance use and the people it impacts.
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Surveillance data
Local Substance Use Surveillance reports can be found below.
*Please note that this data is being transitioned to a dashboard format.
​Ontario substance use surveillance tools:
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