WORKING GROUPS

The Moose Jaw-South Central Drug Strategy consists of four working groups. This has been achieved by the development of a strategy that is based on the core areas which are similar to those used in Canada's Drug Strategy.

Prevention
Harm Reduction
Healing Continuum
Community Justice

Each working group has its own distinct characteristics and appropriate areas of intervention, addressed under the groups assigned Strategic Priorities.

Prevention

Prevention, which is a vital part of a drug strategy, is more than education. Prevention is about taking a proactive approach that includes interventions which seek to prevent the onset of substance abuse. It includes strengthening the health, social and economic factors that can reduce the risks of substance abuse and addictions. It must be embraced not just with words but also with tangible steps to ensure it is put in place adequately, consistently, and with the conviction if necessary to sustain it over the long term. It is important to provide information, networking opportunities, strategies and interventions that help prevent "problematic" or harmful substance abuse to all sectors, including community representatives and service providers, that will increase knowledge and information about issues and the programs/services available in the community. Prevention agendas must consider developmental factors as well as social and health determinants.

The Strategic Priorities of the Prevention Working Group are:

Strategic Priority #3
To ensure that comprehensive drug/abuse school prevention programming is extended through all school grades and integrated throughout the curriculum and school environment.

Strategic Priority #4
To enhance support to school boards to provide teachers training and dedicated staff to ensure that early intervention, counseling and other supports are in place to assist students who have alcohol and other drug abuse issues.

Strategic Priority #5
To ensure a comprehensive population health promotion approach is used to reduce substance abuse/addiction that:

  • Develops programs and resources that address root causes of substance abuse
  • Coordinates action on drug issues at local, regional and provincial levels
  • Increases attention to education and prevention in places such as schools and the workplace through community drug education programs
  • Measures and evaluates the effectiveness of education and awareness in addressing substance abuse/addiction
  • Develops user-friendly and accessible community education and awareness programs to enable clients, service providers and the public to increase their knowledge of addiction and human services resources.

    • Strategic Priority #6
    To provide families with information and education that will help to address the information gap for parents and ensure provision of information about existing supports and services.

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    Harm Reduction

    Harm reduction is about reducing the harm to individuals and communities that results from the abuse of either legal or illegal drugs. It is about reducing the spread of potentially fatal communicable diseases, preventing deaths due to drug overdose, increasing the contact of substance abusers with health care services and treatment programs and reducing the consumption of drugs "on the street."

    The Strategic Priorities of the Harm Reduction Working Group are:

    Strategic Priority #7
    To establish a common vision for Moose Jaw-South Central Region that affirms both harm reduction and abstinence-based philosophies and approaches.

    Strategic Priority #8
    To develop strategies and implement programs to ensure the appropriate possession and use of prescription medications by seniors in both the urban and rural contexts.

    Strategic Priority #9
    To develop strategies and implement programs to engage high-risk users that are based on urgent response and are not necessarily abstinence-based.

    Strategic Priority #10
    To establish a Moose Jaw Needle Exchange Program that is accessible and thus is used by those requiring its services.

    Strategic Priority #12
    To establish a policy with the physicians of the Five Hills Health Region, in conjunction with representatives of the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Saskatchewan, the Saskatchewan Pharmaceutical Association and the Regina Qu'Appelle Health Region, that will reduce the incidence of "double doctoring" the over prescription of drugs such as sedatives and Ritalin, the abuse of prescription drugs, and make use of drug plan information to "flag" previously prescribed medication.

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    Healing Continuum

    Healing Continuum consists of interventions and support programs that enable people with addiction and substance abuse problems to make healthier decisions about their lives and move towards abstinence.

    The Strategic Priorities of the Healing Continuum Working Group are:

    Strategic Priority #11
    To develop a strategy and action plan to establish localized programming and service delivery options through neighbourhood initiatives.

    Strategic Priority #13
    To develop a resource from new and/or existing infrastructure(s) that will provide voluntary youth stabilization and programming with links to other sector services.

    Strategic Priority #14
    To develop strategies and programs through a partnership between Mental Health, Addiction Services and the community to address the stigma and discrimination of people who abuse substances, especially those with a dual diagnosis.

    Strategic Priority #15
    To establish services and/or treatment modalities for "at risk" groups such as youth, adults with chronic addictions, families, those with dual diagnoses, pregnant women and chronic intravenous drug users.

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    Community Justice

    Community Justice is about taking action to ensure public order and safety in our communities by targeting criminal activity, including the sale or use of illicit drugs, and/or the criminal activity that results directly or indirectly from the abuse of drugs. This requires a coordinated approach by all elements of the justice system including police as well as health services and other agencies that are able to link drug and alcohol abusers to withdrawal management (detox), treatment, counseling and prevention services.

    The Strategic Priorities of the Community Justice Working Group are:

    Strategic Priority #16
    To establish a working group of police, health, corrections and public safety representatives, as well as representatives from other social sectors, as necessary, to develop shared solutions with respect to:

    • Client assessment for drug and alcohol problems prior to sentencing
    • Shared policies on application of harm reduction and abstinence-based philosophies across systems including judicial, corrections and policing systems
    • Mandated treatment by the courts
    • Shared case plans
    • Enforcements of community sentences such as probation orders and conditional sentences

    Strategic Priority #17
    To establish and resource strategies and programs that will reduce the supply of illicit drugs to the Moose Jaw-South Central Region.

    Strategic Priority #18
    To work with the community and the appropriate agencies to establish and deliver education/awareness programs with respect to substance abuse/addiction and its effects on the abuser, the abuser's family and friends, as well as how it affects the communities in general, from the perspective of being chared with a drug/alcohol related offence.

    Strategic Priority #19
    To work with the community and the appropriate agencies to establish strategies and programs that will reduce the number of substance abusers/addiction persons in the Region rather than merely displacing their activity to another community.

    Strategic Priority #20
    To work with the community and appropriate agencies such as S.G.I., SADD, MADD and Mental Health and Addictions to establish and deliver education/awareness programs specifically targeting the risks associated with operating equipment and vehicles while impaired by alcohol or drugs.

    Strategic Priority #21
    To work with the community and the appropriate road safety agencies, such as S.G.I., to develop enforcement strategies and programs to increase the detection of impaired drivers and provide a deterrence to those who might otherwise drive while impaired by alcohol or drugs.

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