Ontario government faces harsh criticism as addiction crisis and hospital wait times grow

The Ontario government is being accused Thursday of allowing an addiction crisis to grow in the province.

There are also calls for Ontario to step in to keep people from dying as they sit on waiting lists unable to get help.

Medical experts say this is something that has been growing for several years, as the potency of street drugs has been growing.

Chris Owens of Waterdown in Hamilton was 26 when he died five years ago, losing his battle with mental health issues and addiction.

“He had a big personality,the world lost a great soul,” said Michael Owens, Chris’s father.

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But he couldn’t get the help he needed from government-run addiction centres.

“We very quickly learned that the publicly funded treatment centres were full and they said it would be eight to 10 weeks, and that’s life and death when you’re in crisis,” said Michael.

Owens went through private centres instead before his death, but his father says there were no standards for treatment there.

Part of what’s being called a crisis in treating addictions and overdoses in Ontario.

“Every single community in Ontario knows that we are in a crisis,” said Ontario NDP Leader Marit Stiles.

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In Hamilton, the chief psychiatrist at St. Joseph’s Healthcare, Maxine Lewis, says the addiction crisis has been getting worse, but they’ve developed a long list of programs to help.

“We serve thousands of patients each year, from the numbers that we see of folks presenting with addiction issues in our heads,” said Lewis. “My colleagues tell me that it can be up to 50 per cent of people presenting have some form of substance abuse issues, so this is a huge issue for our hospital and systems in Hamilton.”

Hamilton Centre MPP Robin Lennox, who’s also a doctor treating addictions, says Hamilton offers a good range of programs, but it’s not enough.

“The wait times are still too long,” said Lennox. “I can count on one hand the number of times I’ve been able to get someone into detox the same day, and for residential treatment. We all know that to get someone in after they’re willing to go on the waitlist is months.”

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With Stiles demanding the government develop a new strategy to guarantee timely access to substance use treatment.

“While families get ripped apart and people are languishing on wait lists for services, Doug Ford is doing nothing to get people the help they need and make our communities safer,” said Stiles.

The NDP says it should be at least doubling the province’s spending on addictions, another $150 million.

The provincial government told us today it’s putting more than half a billion dollars into its new addiction treatment or HART hubs, and opioid related deaths have decreased 43 per cent.

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While Chris Owens’ father says it’s about more than money, it’s about making sure people are aware of the crisis.

“We have to recognize it for what it is and then come up with a solution, but putting your head in the sand is not a solution,” said Michael.

The province says it’s been making record investments in mental health treatments and support.

The opposition at Queen’s Park says the problem is growing and should be declared a public emergency.

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