2023 Ontario Drug Policy Symposium

Wednesday, May 31^st, 2023

Welcome and Opening Remarks

Chief Nishan Duraiappah, Peel Regional Police & OACP President

Keynote Speaker: The Honourable Michael Tibollo

Associate Minister of Mental Health and Addictions

Organized Crime & Enforcement in an Opioid Crisis

Reducing the supply of illicit drugs remains an enforcement priority. Police services across the province are dealing with organized crime, criminal networks and import and export operations. Once these harmful illicit substances make its way to our streets, police officers must respond, deal with the criminal consequences, investigate overdose occurrences and support victims and families.  

Det. Supt. Karen Gonneau, Organized Crime Enforcement Bureau, Ontario Provincial Police
A/Supt. Pete Liptrott, Manager Crime Prevention & Investigations, Ontario Provincial Police
Det. Cst. Jordan Meffe, Opioid Education and Enforcement Unit, Special Investigative Services, Niagara Regional Police Service
Det. Cst. Jeremy Diffranco, Opioid Education and Enforcement Unit, Special Investigative Services, Niagara Regional Police Service

Criminal Justice Response to Drug Offences

The Criminal Justice system has and continues to modernize and determine how best to deal with individuals that come into conflict with the law. Drug Treatment Courts has been a strategic and innovative approach for those in conflict with the law and dealing with substance use issues. For individuals to succeed in Drug Treatment Courts, community resources need to be available and working together for common goals. As part of this collective criminal justice approach, prosecutorial directives now consider the health and public safety concerns in the assessment of the public interest in initiation, continuation and disposition of all charges, including simple drug possession. 

Justice Kofi N. Barnes, Judge, Ontario Superior Court of Justice, Brampton
Deputy Chief Federal Prosecutor Carolyn Hayes, Public Prosecution Service of Canada
Jacqueline Matthews B.A. Crim./SSW, Case Manager, Ottawa Drug Treatment Court, Rideauwood Addiction and Family Services Centre

Decriminalization and Policing Healthy Outcomes for Substance Users

The suggestion in drug harm reduction discussions is that supporting the decriminalization of “simple possession” for illegal substances is an effective approach to mitigate the harms that come through the criminal justice system. While those under the enforcement pillar understand and support that decriminalization could be effective with appropriate programing such as diversion, referral, etc. they also caution experts that a commensurate level of investment into health and social supports is critical to the success of decriminalization. There is also a need to be aware of the unintended consequences of policies and practices that may end up benefiting organized crime groups.

Insp. Phil Heard, Organized Crime Section, Vancouver Police Department
A/Supt. Tyrone Hilton, Organized Crime Enforcement, Drug Squad, Toronto Police Service
Dr. Leslie Buckley MD MPH FRCPC, Chief of Addictions Division, Centre for Addiction and Mental Health

Responding to Change

Communities across Ontario have been involved in innovative approaches to the drug crisis. These programs demonstrate how crucial broad collaboration is in forging sound and effective strategies. This collaboration has different components: provincial, and local governments pooling their resources; education, health, and police officials sharing ideas and data; and government, business, and non-profit sectors building coalitions, all in service of the common goal of assisting those in our communities that experience substance abuse.

Emily Jones, Community Development and Engagement Coordinator, Peterborough Police Service
Dr. Thomas Piggott MD PhD CCFP FRCPC, Medical Officer of Health & Chief Executive Officer, Peterborough Public Health
Sgt. Pete Wiesner, Supervisor, Crisis Response Branch, Hamilton Police Service
Sandra Kurdziel, Coordinator, Social Navigator Program

Getting Back to Basics: Prevention & Awareness

Prevention and awareness programs are at the heart of addressing substance use before it begins and ensuring safety. There are many opportunities to break down silos and find common ground with the sole goal of protecting communities, vulnerable people, and especially youth. 

Karen McDonald, Lead Toronto's Drug Checking Service Research Program Manager, St. Michael's Hospital Drug Checking
Caroline Folkman, Manager, Toward Common Ground
Toby Ma, Education and Awareness Coordinator, YMCA
Dua Fatima, Youth Outreach Specialist, YMCA

Thursday, June 1^st, 2023

Keynote Speaker: Dr. Dirk Huyer, Chief Coroner of Ontario

The overdoses and opioid crisis in Ontario

Addressing Root Causes: Research, Overview and Pragmatic Solutions

When left untreated, musculoskeletal (MSK) pain is a common but often overlooked catalyst that sets some people on a spiral to opioid/other substance addiction. The panel will describe the epidemiology of opioid use and how the escalating interdependencies between physical pain, pharmacological interventions and mental health issues exacerbate it. They’ll outline a proven, evidence-based model for addressing this root cause and related opioid dependencies, with collaborative, multidisciplinary MSK care. Panelists will also cite current barriers, as well as system gaps for people looking for help to reduce their opioid dependency for MSK pain. They’ll propose steps to overcome them with a pathway that offers better outcomes through collaborative care for these individuals. 

Dr. Jason Busse, DC, PhD, Professor, Department of Anesthesia and Health, Evidence and Impact, McMaster University | Director, National Pain Centre | Associate Director, Michael G. DeGroote Centre for Medicinal Cannabis Research
Dr. Kathleen Doukas, MD, CCFP, MSc CH, Family Physician, St. Michael's Hospital Academic Family Health Team
Dr. Deborah Kopansky-Giles, DC, FCCS(C), FICC (Hon.), MSc, Assistant Professor, Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto | Chair, St. Michael's Hospital Academic Family Health Team | Professor, Canadian Memorial Chiropractic College (CMCC)

Reducing the Harms of Substance Use

Substance use harms reach far beyond the individual. Society as a collective must find a way to address the overwhelming drug crisis with compassion and kindness. There are a myriad of circumstances contributing to the situation occurring in our communities, factors such as untreated and undiagnosed mental health issues, domestic violence, sexual abuse and homelessness are only a few of these. This panel brings together stakeholders from different health perspectives to share their knowledge and stimulate conversation towards change.

Mia Brown, RN BScN, Program Manager Substance Use and Injury Prevention Program, Simcoe Muskoka District Health Unit
Bernadette deGonzague, MSc. Sr. Mental Health and Addictions Policy Analyst, Chiefs of Ontario
Joanne Simons, CEO, Casey House
Amanda Neilson, Manager of Clinical Practice, Rideauwood Addiction and Family Services

Treatment and a Continuum of Care (Virtual)

Dr. Nathaniel Day MD, Medical Director Addiction, Provincial Addiction and Mental Health and Corrections Health Services, Alberta Health Services
Dr. Scott MacDonald, MD, Providence Crosstown Clinic
Eugenia Oviedo-Joekes, Tier 1 Canada Research Chair, Professor PhD, University of British Columbia

The Future: Policing Priorities Townhall Takeaways

Michael Parkinson, Drug Strategy Specialist, Drug Strategy Network of Ontario
Supt. J.G. (Jon) Dumond, Ontario Provincial Police

Where Do We Go from Here?

Registration

Registration Fee: $250 + HST

*Registration Fee includes Breakfast, AM/PM Breaks, and Lunch on both days

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Accommodation

Book your accommodation at a special group rate at Hilton Garden Inn
* Walking distance to Pearson Convention Centre

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