LONDON, ON – London and Middlesex County residents will soon have the opportunity to comment on the draft recommendations that will form the foundation of a long-term, comprehensive strategy to address local substance use. A community partnership that includes representatives from the health, education and social services sectors, as well as from law enforcement, the private sector, municipal government and people with lived experience, has been hard at work for the last several months. Led by the Middlesex-London Community Drug and Alcohol Strategy (CDAS) Steering Committee, the group will be hosting a series of drop-in information and feedback sessions that will provide an opportunity to learn more and share thoughts that will shape the final strategy for the community.

The Steering Committee is also launching an online survey that can be found on the CDAS website at www.mldncdas.com/getinvolved. The drop-in sessions will take place at the following locations, on the dates and times listed below:

• Strathroy Library (34 Frank St, Strathroy)
  Tuesday, February 27th from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.
  
  
• Dorchester Library, Large Community Room (2123 Dorchester Rd, Dorchester)
  Wednesday, February 28th from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.
  
  
• Central Library, Stevenson & Hunt Room (251 Dundas St, London)
  Thursday, March 1st from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.
  
  
• South London Community Centre, Wakefield Rooms (1119 Jalna Blvd, London)
  Monday, March 5th from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.
  
  
• London East Social Services (1835 Dundas Street, London)
  Tuesday, March 6th from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.

There are currently 29 draft recommendations, which are grouped according to a four pillars model, namely treatment, harm reduction, enforcement and prevention.

The information and suggestions gathered through the in-person sessions and the online survey will help shape the final Community Drug and Alcohol Strategy for the London and Middlesex County region.

Media Contact:

Dan Flaherty, Communications Manager, Middlesex-London Health Unit
519-663-5317 ext. 2469 or 519-617-0570 (cell.)

Spokespeople:

Rhonda Brittan, Healthy Communities and Injury Prevention Manager, Middlesex-London Health Unit

Brian Lester, Executive Director, Regional HIV/AIDS Connection