www.insideHALTON.com | OAKVILLE BEAVER | Thursday, May 11, 2017 | 34 PIC-A -D ELI (^Leekly Specials: Thursday Nights: Domestic Pint & 1 lb of Wings $ 9 99 Daily special: Large 3 item Pizza- * 9 " Dine In & Pick up only Featuring Best Montreal Smoked Sandwiches All Day Breakfast. Hours: Monday - Saturday 7 am -1 am Closed Sundays. Data shows prescription use of opioids is low in Halton by Marta Marychuk Oakville Beaver Staff 670 Fourth Line (905) 339-1905 Open your senses to w h a t o t h e r s h a v e e x p e r ie n c e d . Prescription opioid use in Halton Region is lower than the majority of regions in Ontario, according to the Narcotics Atlas, published by the Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care (MOHLTC) in December 2016. The Narcotics Atlas provides high-level analysis of opioid dispensing data collected by the MOHLTC Narcotics Monitoring System. In 2014/15, 1.96 million Ontarians were dis pensed an opioid, according to the atlas. What are opioids? The report was a result of questions from councillors, for more clarification on the re port -- opioid use in Halton and the role of the Halton Region Health Department. The report was originally presented to the Region's Health and Social Services Commit tee on Tuesday, March 21. The report stated Halton had relatively few er opioid overdose deaths (an average of 13 deaths a year between 2010 and 2015) com pared to many areas of British Columbia and Alberta. However, the report says Halton has still seen an increase in opioid-related emergency department visits and hospitalizations over the past 10 years, consistent with provincial trends. Trend is on the rise Few overdose deaths in Halton PLUM'S FOOD SHOP iS NOW OPEN! W e s e r v e fr e s h b r e a k f a s t & lu n c h e s d a ily T a k e - o u t o n ly u n til 2 :0 0 , M o n d a y - F r id a y W e o f f e r f u ll s e r v i c e c o r p o r a t e c a t e r i n g 447 Speers Rd, unit 9 · 905-844-7110 w w w .p lu m c a te r in g .c a Opioids are a class of drugs that includes both illicit substances, such as heroin, as well as prescription opioids used typically to treat severe, acute and chronic pain, such as mor phine, oxycodone and fentanyl. Halton ranked 46th out of 49 counties in Ontario with a rate of 1,836 opioid users per 10,000 Ontario residents receiving drug ben efits, based on a follow-up report to Halton Regional Council April 19. Only Perth, York and Ottawa have lower rates than Halton Region, the follow-up report added. Halton Hills Councillor Clark Somerville expressed some concerns on opioid use in Halton Region. Somerville called Vancouver the "epicen tre" of the opioid crisis, where as many as four people overdose every day. see Councillor on p.38 B e y o n d K i t c h e n s &Ba t h tP c tjA in x liJ o iit' S a p e c ta tio n s v w w w . b e y o n d k i t c h e n s .c a Design Build fully custom nsta kitchens, vanities, wall unit, mantle, walk in closet, laundry room, Bar, etc; · Granite, Quartz countertops · Full renovation service · Real estate service; Q EW Speers Rd. Lake Shore 466 Speers Rd,Unit 6-7 Oakville, O N L6K 3W9 T: 905-338-8999 / 905-338-8199 F : 905-338-8099 info@beyondkitchens.ca *Trades, realtors, builder programme available, please ask store for details; OakVille Showroom Location