Fighting drug, alcohol and addictions across northwestern Ontario takes a community effort.
That’s the feeling of Ed Chwastyk, Detachment Commander of the Provincial Police in Dryden.
“We really need to make sure that we reach out to our community service providers like Kenora District Services Board, health service, Indigenous organizations, mental health, counselling services, and advocacy groups. There’s been some excellent groundwork laid by the Dryden Police Service.”
He stresses those suffering from addiction need individual and specific community support.
Chwastyk agrees with previous comments from DPS Chief Doug Palson that drug and alcohol abuse is a public health emergency.
“We need to grow those relationships to make sure that the public health side of this is tackled and we’re going to be a good partner in that. Then we can focus on enforcement and make sure that we tackle trafficking and that sort of thing and address the criminality associated with it.”
