About the Peterborough Drug Strategy
Who We Are
The Peterborough Drug Strategy (PDS) is a collective of community-based organizations in Peterborough City and County that actively work towards reducing the harms of substance use for individuals, families, and our community.
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Our Approach
The issues and harms associated with substance use are complex and pervasive across sectors and lives. In order to effectively and actively work towards our mission, strive for equity, and improve the health, safety, and well-being of all members of our community, PDS approaches this work from a collaborative leadership model based on the four pillars of prevention, harm reduction, treatment, and community safety.
Prevention
Integrating a comprehensive set of initiatives to prevent or delay the onset of substance use and avoid potential substance-related harms before they occur, which involves strengthening access to some of the social determinants of health.
Harm Reduction
Advocating for and implementing a range of pragmatic and evidence-based policies and programs designed to reduce the potential risks associated with substance use.
Treatment
Connecting to a range of programming and services for people dealing with a substance use issue.
Community Safety
Strengthening community safety by preventing and responding to the crimes and community disorder issues associated with licit and illicit substances and promoting pathways to appropriate services for people.
Through this approach, PDS is empowered with a unique ability to address issues and undertake projects that are outside of the scope of any one organization.
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It is important to note that the work of the PDS has been, and will continue to be, dependent on project funding and the commitment of partner organizations.
Our Partners
PDS’s work is guided by individuals who represent the following organizations:
Pillar Partner
Pillar Partner
Partner
Pillar Partner
Pillar Partner
PDS membership has changed over the years based on the projects that PDS undertakes and the capacity of individual organizations to participate. We also collaborate and consult with numerous organizations that are not formally part of PDS.
Our Story
The Peterborough Drug Strategy (PDS) was born in 2009 by four partnering organizations: Peterborough Public Health, PARN – Your Community AIDS Resource Network, Four Counties Addiction Service Team, and Peterborough Police Service. These organizations were united in their view that collaboration around how substance use is addressed in our community is crucial to supporting the needs of individuals who use substances as well as their families and support people.
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The community of Peterborough has identified substance use as a key area of concern. A comprehensive plan to reduce the negative effects of substance use is necessary to reduce fragmentation, limit duplication of services, and ensure well-informed community activities.
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A comprehensive, well-balanced approach requires four pillars: prevention, harm reduction, treatment, and community safety. Organizations and strategies representing these pillars work together with community members toward the goal of a safe, strong, and healthy City and County.
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A drug strategy as an approach allows us to create a made-in-Peterborough strategy based on our community’s needs in order to reduce the harms associated with substance use on individuals, families, and communities.
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The Peterborough Drug Strategy builds on existing expertise and personal experiences in Peterborough while also incorporating best practices, research, and lessons learned from other cities in Canada and internationally. The strategy includes representation from all groups and addresses both legal and illegal drugs.
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The drug strategy currently aims to raise awareness, reduce stigma, and engage the community while moving ahead with select recommendations for action and mobilizing change.
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The PDS Strategic Planning Framework was finalized in 2024, based on a consultation process that engaged stakeholders throughout the City and County. Based on the information gathered from our consultations, we defined our mission, approach, values, and four strategic focus areas. The plan includes recommendations for action and identifies pathways to improve prevention, harm reduction, treatment, and enforcement efforts in the community.
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Based on our strategic plan, PDS has received funding and implemented a number of projects. See Our Work for more information on past and current projects.
Our Shared Values
PDS is committed to unity and preparedness to respond to current and emerging substance use needs in our community.
Five core values guide and inform our collective work.
COLLABORATION
Recognizing that our work is complex and more effective when considered through an intersectional lens, we value collaboration. We are committed to building trusting and respectful relationships that allow us to be adaptable and responsive to emerging issues while leading partnerships with a strategic voice that is united on key messages.
INCLUSION
Acknowledging that greater impact is achieved when diverse experiences and perspectives participate in decision-making, we value the meaningful inclusion of varied voices in the development, delivery, and evaluation of initiatives by those they impact. PDS Partners have identified this as a priority in our collective work. We continue to seek funding and resources to provide an equitable, sustainable, and empowering experience that includes the voices of those with lived and living experiences of substance use.
RESPECT
Honouring each individual's dignity, strengths, and rights while striving for greater equity, we work from a person-centered framework and value respect for the choices of people, families and communities. We believe a person's worth is neither diminished nor increased as a result of their drug use.
ACCOUNTABILITY
Knowing we are considered a trusted source for information on issues related to substance use in Peterborough, with a history of innovative approaches, we value accountability to our partners, funders, and the community. We are accountable to these groups by demonstrating our impact and considering a full range of evidence to support our initiatives.
ADVOCACY
Understanding that all individuals have the right to live in a safe, healthy, and equitable society, we seek to champion system-level changes to better the lives of our community members as a collective. We continue to do this work through an intersectional lens by gathering community data and evidence-informed practices, raising awareness of the complexity of issues, and providing education and training. We strive to collectively offer solutions to these issues based on evidence and best practices.