Chatham-Kent Drug Awareness Council

03/02/2026

Substance use challenges are not about willpower. They are health-related conditions that involve real changes in the brain.

Repeated substance use can affect the brain’s reward system, making it harder to feel pleasure, motivation, or interest in everyday activities. This is sometimes referred to as a period of emotional flatness or reduced reward sensitivity.

The good news is that the brain can heal.

Over time, many of these changes improve. However, recovery of brain chemistry can take months (and sometimes longer) especially with prolonged or heavy use. Healing is not instant, and that’s okay.

When we understand the science, we can respond with more compassion and less stigma.

Education helps us support recovery. 💙



https://www.facebook.com/share/17rqGmaz93/

03/02/2026

March Program Calendar is out !!!

03/01/2026

Women’s Sharing Circle – Community Support Space 💜

For more supoort and community information from Walpole Island Health Center , visit- https://www.facebook.com/groups/3430244090337487/?ref=share&mibextid=NSMWBT

03/01/2026

In a recent Canadian analysis, addiction specialists were asked to evaluate which substances cause the greatest overall harm. Alcohol ranked at the top, well above the rest.

The five substances identified as most harmful overall were:

1. Alcohol

2. To***co

3. Non-prescription opioids

4. Co***ne

5. Methamphetamine

The rankings considered a wide range of impacts, including physical health, mental health, mortality, social relationships, and broader community and economic effects.

It’s a powerful reminder that legality and social acceptance don’t always reflect overall risk.

Study:
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/41589327/

03/01/2026

Mobile care this week for Chatham-Kent

02/28/2026

This information is incredibly important right now. When the local drug supply changes, lives can be put at risk quickly and without warning. Staying informed and sharing updates like this can genuinely help prevent harm and save lives in our community. Please take a moment to read and pass it on. 💙

⚠ CK Public Health Warns of Increased Drug Poisonings in Chatham-Kent ⚠

CK Public Health is issuing an alert about an increase in drug poisonings (overdoses) and unexpected reactions to substances in Chatham-Kent based on elevated opioid-related EMS calls over the last several days.

There are reports about the presence of strong tranquilizers in the local drug supply resulting in heavy sedation.

This serves as an important reminder that the unregulated drug supply is unpredictable and always changing. Substances may not be what individuals expect, increasing the risk of harm or death.

Share this warning to help raise awareness and reduce the risk of drug poisonings.

To view the current Opioid Surveillance Report visit: www.ckphu.com/opioids

To read the full media release, and learn what you should do in case of overdose or if you use substances, please visit www.ckphu.com/newsroom

02/28/2026

Check out NHRC's new resources on To***co Harm Reduction !!!

NHRC is excited to share new resources on our To***co Harm Reduction (THR) webpage! This page includes fact sheets on THR principles and ni****ne, designed to support accurate, stigma-free conversations about to***co and ni****ne. These materials address common myths about ni****ne and reinforce harm reduction-informed approaches that center choice, dignity, and real-world context. Whether used while working with people who use drugs, supporting smoking reduction efforts, or to check out clear, evidence-based tools to share, these resources are a great place to start. The page will include additional resources over time. Check it out: bit.ly/To***coHarmReductionNHRC

***coHarmReduction **ng ****ne

02/27/2026

Addiction does not discriminate.

It does not care about income, education, job title, background, age, or neighbourhood. It can affect anyone, and it can impact every community.

There is a common myth that addiction only happens to certain people. The truth is, it’s a health issue that can touch individuals from all walks of life.

That’s why awareness matters.
That’s why education matters.
And that’s why compassion matters.

When we replace judgment with understanding, we create space for recovery and support. 💙

Please share this message! You never know who might be struggling.

Sometimes we can’t tell what someone is carrying, and seeing a message like this could mean more than we realize.

02/25/2026

Join the community in supporting those experiencing homelessness, hunger, and hardship during the winter season.

Coldest Night of the Year is a national fundraising walk that raises funds for local organizations working to provide shelter, outreach, and essential supports.

📅 Date: February 28
📍 Location: Chatham-Kent (local event details available online)
🚶‍♀️ Walk. Donate. Sponsor a participant. Form a team.

This event helps fund programs that support individuals facing homelessness and barriers related to mental health and substance use — especially during the coldest months of the year.
Every step taken helps make a difference in our community. 💙

To learn more or register, visit the official event page and search for the Chatham-Kent walk.

The Coldest Night of the Year is a winterrific family-friendly fundraising walk in support of local charities. Let’s change the tune for people experiencing hurt, hunger, and homelessness... because it’s cold out there.

02/24/2026

Supporting the Supporters 💙

Caring for someone you love can be meaningful, but it can also be exhausting. Many caregivers experience emotional and physical strain, even if they don’t always talk about it.

If you’re supporting someone through addiction or mental health challenges, this upcoming virtual session may be helpful.

Hosted by Families for Addiction Recovery (FAR), this free online event will focus on understanding caregiver fatigue, why it develops, and how to recognize and respond to it in healthy, sustainable ways.

The session features Dr. Wendy Bamatter and will offer practical, research-informed insight for those navigating the realities of caregiving.

🗓 Wednesday, February 25
🕖 7:00 PM ET
🎟 Free registration:

https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/1817673756525/WN_mrqx0QXrQa2k0ldCxpVGqA?fbclid=IwdGRjcAQK6w5jbGNrBArq_2V4dG4DYWVtAjExAHNydGMGYXBwX2lkDDM1MDY4NTUzMTcyOAABHuWMFC0-8imLmQrJsTC1ge_VOeKZk1myzNxiGtZmlG91Nq62ixMIU7HBIHRK_aem_iUFxx8OUpBMp7Ra_EWZ19A

Caregivers need care too. If this could support someone in your life, please consider sharing.

Caregiver Burnout: What It Is, Why It Happens, and How to Move Through It Do you sometimes, or perhaps more often than you’d like, find yourself parenting from a place of emotional reactivity? Maybe you yell or make threats because, in the moment, it feels like the only available option. Perhaps y...

02/24/2026

Community Collaboration in Action 💙

Yesterday, the Chatham-Kent Ontario Health Team (CKOHT) brought together community partners for a Leadership Circle focused on strengthening how we support individuals who use substances, particularly those navigating the justice system.

With 50 representatives from 27 local organizations in the room, the afternoon was filled with meaningful conversation, shared learning, and practical insight into collaborative approaches across health, justice, and community services.

Our community is grateful to the organizations who shared their expertise and frontline experience, and to the Chatham-Kent Public Library for hosting the gathering.

Strong systems of care are built through partnership, and it’s encouraging to see so many sectors working together to better support our community.