Waterloo Region – Progress on addressing addictions and overdoses continues to be made through a coordinated, community-based approach in Waterloo Region.

Today, Region of Waterloo Public Health and community partners presented an update at the Community and Health Services Committee on the related programs, strategies and substance-use data trends.   

“Substance use and addiction are complex individual and community issues,” said Dr. Hsiu-Li Wang, Region of Waterloo Medical Officer of Health. “The collaborative work with our community partners, grassroots organizations and municipalities is vital to advancing solutions.” 

The community-based work is focused on prevention, harm reduction, addiction treatment and community safety. Examples of this work in action include:

• Investing in upstream programs such as Public Health’s Healthy Babies, Healthy Children, to prevent adverse childhood experiences,  
• Supporting prevention-focused initiatives with: 
• the Children and Youth Planning Table,  
• the YWHO Cambridge, Waterloo Region’s first provincially funded Youth Wellness Hub, 
• Starling Community Services, the lead agency for Child and Youth Mental Health, and  
• the Youth Mental Health and Addictions Prevention Mobilization Team,  
• Addressing harm reduction gaps with the Harm Reduction Work Group,  
• Operating and expanding service options for addiction treatment with the Homelessness and Addiction Recovery Treatment (HART) Hub, and
• Advancing the Waterloo Regional Police Service’s (WRPS) Drug Strategy, which reinforces the commitment to community safety and well-being.

Public Health continues to play a role in data collection, monitoring and reporting, substance use prevention, harm reduction services, and coordinating work with partners.

Data highlighted in the committee report shows suspected opioid overdose calls to paramedic services declined in 2025 compared with 2024. Similar reductions were reported for opioid-related emergency department visits, confirmed opioid toxicity deaths and suspected drug-related deaths over the same period.

“The lower numbers in 2025 are in line with the data trends that we are seeing at the provincial and national levels. However, the reasons behind the decline remain unclear,” said Dr. Rabia Bana, Associate Medical Officer of Health, Region of Waterloo Public Health. “With the unpredictable toxicity of the illegal drug supply, trends can shift at any time. Ongoing commitment to prevention, harm reduction, treatment and recovery is needed.” 

By bringing together partners working in youth-focused prevention, harm reduction, treatment and community safety, the Region is helping to prevent drug use, helping people access supports earlier, reducing the risk of overdose, and improving overall community health and safety.

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