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continued from p.5 "The new funding will help reduce that danger in a major way. It will also save the healthcare system a lot of money and will make our community a healthier place," said Stewart. The funding will provide 12 direct-service staff including case managers, nurses and peer workers to help clients. Care will involve common paths, so clients receive consistent service regardless of who is providing treatment or how the client came into the health-care system. "We will also integrate with existing opioid Treatment will offer clients individualized plan treatment services, clinics, pharmacists and physicians licensed to prescribe methadone. We will link with the existing system and provide wraparound support for clients in order to increase the likelihood of needed change," said Stewart. The ADAPT CEO noted the Ontario Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care released new funding for opioid treatments nearly two years ago -- a realization there was a "developing problem" of insufficient support and the issue has grown, he said. Earlier this year, the Canadian Centre on Substance Abuse (CCSA) and the National Advisory Council (NAC) on Prescription Drug Misuse released a 10-year, pan-Canadian strategy called First Do No Harm: Responding to Canada's Prescription Drug Crisis. The report noted Canada has the secondhighest level of prescription opioid use globally, with a total of 26,380 Standardized Defined Daily Doses (S-DDD) of prescription opioids consumed from 2008-10 (International Narcotics Control Board, 2011). Stewart said ADAPT and its local partners are currently expanding the program's services. "This service is not a cookie-cutter, one-dimensional, blanket approach to treatment. It's based on a comprehensive need assessment and then individualized treatment plans are developed to address the opioid problem. No treatment plans are exactly the same because no individual situations are identical. "Each LHIN made its own decision on how it would address the opioid problem within its (network). Our LHIN decided to invest in developing a new comprehensive, integrated opioid assessment and treatment program," said Stewart. For more information, visit http:// haltonadapt.org or call 1-855-211-0898. 7 | Wednesday, December 4, 2013 | OAKVILLE BEAVER | www.insideHALTON.com Firefighters' toy drive needs a boost The Oakville Firefighters Toy Drive is in need of donations, especially for infants and children older than age 12. "This season, we are serving a large number of additional infants and older children and as such are in more need of donations for those age groups," said Kurt Merriman, Oakville Firefighters Toy Drive co-ordinator. The toy drive officially kicked off at the Oakville Santa Claus Parade with local firefighters collecting new, unwrapped toys from those who attended. Donations can be made to any Oakville Fire Station before Dec. 18 to make sure every child in town has a toy by Christmas. Gift ideas for infants include: hats, blankets, sleepers, booties, stuffed toys, blocks, play mats, and bath toys. Gift ideas for children aged 12 and older, include: sports equipment, headphones, electronics, books, posters, calendars, journals, school supplies, backpacks, clothing, winter hats and gloves, jewelry, hair accessories, nail polish, makeup, blankets, personal hygiene products, movies, and gift cards to local retailers. For more information, gift ideas or drop-off locations, visit www. oakvillefirefighterstoydrive.com or visit the Facebook page www.facebook.com/ OakvilleFirefightersToyDrive. advertorial 40 WATCH US WOMEN OFF ENTIRE STORE! Nothinghill Gate 4th Line % Includes: Joseph Ribkoff Frank Lyman Sympli* Nine West Shoes Tribal Not Your Daughters Jeans *Excludes Black Sympli Items & Jewelry 1131 Nottinghill Gate GLEN ABBEY OPEN 7 DAYS A WEEK 905-827-2271 Pilgrams Way N. Service Rd. QEW Speers Rd.