Championing Change: Advocacy in Action: Escalating substance use and overdose crisis:

1/2 Ontario faces a critical challenge, with over 3,000 drug poisoning deaths annually for the fifth year in a row. Businesses are urging for immediate action and strategic interventions.

Overview Several Ontario municipalities have declared states of emergency due to the escalating substance use and overdose crisis. This Ontario Chamber of Commerce policy primer unpacks the crisis’ wide-ranging impacts on Ontario businesses and communities and highlights different intervention approaches. The OCC’s goal is to frame the ongoing conversation about addiction management by simplifying the complex narrative surrounding substance use, bridging the knowledge gap among stakeholders and emphasizing the need for evidence based, community-informed solutions that prioritize public health principles, prevent mortality, and improve recovery outcomes.