St. Catharines councillors want to try a more targeted approach to handling the opioid crisis downtown.
At this week's meeting, council asked the Overdose Prevention and Education Network of Niagara to create a work group specifically for the core.
An overdose hot spot map provided by Niagara Emergency Medical Services indicates the area is one of the hardest hit in the entire region.
Co-Chair of OPENN and Executive Director of Positive Living Niagara Glenn Walker has seen the impact first hand.
"Council is on target - we have presented to them information around the overdose situation in the downtown area, in particular the Queenston area as well, are key locations. And I think having this focus is certainly helpful for us."
The introduction of fentanyl to the region has proved to be particularly problematic.
"Overdoses are extremely high, not just our organization," Walker says. "Positive Living in the last month had 60 people use Naloxone kits which are used when someone overdoses."
Niagara EMS dealt with around 520 suspected opioid overdoses last year.
