8 OPINION TO LEARN HOW TO SUBMIT YOUR OWN CONTENT VISIT SIMCOE.COM ABOUT US This newspaper, published EDITORIAL every Thursday, is a division of the Metroland Media Group Ltd., a wholly-owned subsidiary of Torstar Corporation. The Metroland OUR POLITICIANS family of newspapers is comprised of more than 80 community publications across Ontario. This newspaper is a member Thursday, SeptemberMUST 26, 2019 | LEAD CITY OUT | of the National NewsMedia Council. Complainants are urged to bring their concerns OF OPIOID CRISIS to the attention of the news- Barrie is in the clutches of a public health crisis that paper and, if not satisfied, arrie Advance B demands an immediate, forceful reaction to match the write The National NewsMedia intensity of its destruction. Council, Suite 200, 890 Yonge We've watched, waited and reported as our city lead- St., Toronto, ON M4W 2H2. ers have debated and discussed opioid addiction, only to Phone: 416-340-1981 find ourselves no further ahead and with no plan in sight. It's not good enough. Web: www.mediacouncil.ca Our community wants and deserves more, so we, as a [email protected] local business, are stepping up today to do more. facebook.com/simcoenews In this issue of The Barrie Advance, we have dedicat- @simcoenews ed every story to this crisis. We've provided a barrage of voices from those entrenched in this crisis with a goal to WHO WE ARE promote understanding and compassion, and to impact Publisher change. Dana Robbins Thinking of where Barrie will be next year if we do General Manager nothing now is more frightful than admitting we need Shaun Sauve help. SAYING IT ON SOCIAL MEDIA Director of Advertising Council's lack of leadership has led to NIMBYism and Elise Allain a city divided, when it should have resulted in a coming YOU READ: 'IN A BETTER "Disgusting. I really DRUG CONSUMPTION SITE: SUR- Director of Content together of hearts and minds. hope those protesting this Joanne Burghardt PLACE': HOLLAND LANDING site gets first-hand experi- VEY (PUBLISHED MAY 10) We know methadone, which is used as a substitute "Look at the neighbour- Editor-in-Chief Simcoe MOM'S SON DIED OF FENTANYL ence in how this epidemic drug in the treatment of opioid addiction, is dispensed hoods in Toronto where in- Lori Martin is destroying people and at clinics throughout our city. Opioid addiction is not a OVERDOSE (PUBLISHED JULY jection sites are located. Managing Editor our city. Shame on you." downtown issue; it is a city-wide crisis. 16) Ask the citizens in these Jeff Bower Let's unite with parents who have lost children to "How horrible for him JASON HARRIS, neighbourhoods how their Director Distribution addiction, spouses who have lost partners, and children and his family. Addiction FACEBOOK quality of life has been af- Mike Banville who have lost parents to attack this crisis with a single kills. Addicts need help. YOU READ: MOTHERS OF fected. It is documented Director Creative Services focus: we won't lose anyone else. Not judgment." OPIOID CRISIS CALL ON BAR- through numerous media Katherine Porcheron Opioid addiction is not an issue about "them"; it is an KELLY JANE WEEDON, sources. Putting injection Advertising Coordinator issue about us. FACEBOOK RIE POLICE TO TRACK DOWN sites near denser residen- Nadine Kennedy Many can play a role in finding a solution, from the "I knew your son from DEALERS (PUBLISHED MAY 22) tial areas has been a disas- federal government, which regulates drug companies, to the street. I was thinking of "I have always said fen- ter." the province, which funds health care, but the fight has him lately. Such a waste; CONTACT US tanyl dealers should be PAUL BROWN, Barrie Advance to start here at the municipal level. Jeremy could be a great charged and convicted of FACEBOOK 21 Patterson Road Today, we are asking Mayor Jeff Lehman and all guy. I got clean. I wish with murder, knowing full well "This is very wrong. It Barrie, ON L4N 7W6 members of city council to declare a health crisis and to all my heart he could have their product kills." sets completely wrong idea Phone: 705-726-0573 demand support from all levels of government to focus done the same." BRADLEY MATHEWS, about drugs. Instead of sav- Fax: 705-726-9350 solely on the eradication of opioid addiction in Barrie. BRANDY SHEPPARD, FACEBOOK ing humans from an addic- Web: www.simcoe.com Yes, it's a huge undertaking. Yes, many other cities FACEBOOK "No, he died because he tion, it's promoted as (the) and towns in Canada and across the U.S. are under siege "With or without fenta- was doing drugs. Drugs kill new normal. Insanity at its by opioids. But they are not Barrie. Letters to the editor nyl, doing heroin is Rus- people. With fentanyl or highest level." All letters must be fewer than 320 Our city's resumé is second to none. When we identi- sian roulette." not." YELENA VAIMAN, fy a lack of care in a specific area of health, we rally. We words and include your name and MICHAEL COLE-FITZPATRICK, COLE WILLIAMS, FACEBOOK telephone number for verification now have a highly regarded cancer centre, cardiac care FACEBOOK FACEBOOK closer to home and improved mental health services for YOU READ: ORO-MEDONTE purposes. We reserve the right to YOU READ: COUNCIL DEFERS "All dealers - big and edit, condense or reject letters. our youths. small - should be targeted. FAMILY CONFRONTS OPIOID We can and have moved mountains. We can move this Published letters will appear in DECISION ON DOWNTOWN If you take away the acces- CRISIS FOLLOWING SON'S print and/or online at simcoe.com one, as well. BARRIE SUPERVISED CON- sibility of a substance, peo- We are in this fight together, but someone has to step DEATH (PUBLISHED JAN. 11, ple may seek help for their Delivery up and lead the way. SUMPTION SITE (PUBLISHED addiction rather than fuel- 2018) For all delivery inquiries, JUNE 3) ing it." "Such a heartbreaking please e-mail customersup- "Terrible decision to de- MEGAN BAILEY, tragedy. Thank you for [email protected] or call lay this. They have the FACEBOOK sharing your story in an ef- 1-855-853-5613. right location now and we fort to help others." SIGN UP FOR OUR need to get this done." YOU READ: PUBLIC OPINION KATHRIN DYKSTRA-VEENSTRA, WEEKLY NEWSLETTER AT GREG R. GROEN, SPLIT ON BARRIE'S SUPERVISED FACEBOOK SIMCOE.COM FACEBOOK imcoe.com s.