Public Health invites people who use drugs to share their experiences to help improve services and programs in the community

August 01, 2025

Over the last few months, Public Health, in collaboration with community partners, has been conducting a study to learn about drug use, and the health and social issues that people who use drugs encounter in the region. The goal of the project is to determine how Public Health and partners can improve services and programs to better meet the needs of people who use drugs regularly or casually.

With the help of community agencies, Public Health has been collecting information from people who use drugs on topics such as drug use practices, access to health care and social services, and ways to improve the health and safety of people who use drugs.

“The Substance Use Study allows members of the community to have direct input into shaping the services that are offered so that programs can be tailored to their needs,” says Denise Squire, Executive Director of the Woolwich Community Health Centre.

Don Roth, chair of the Waterloo Region Integrated Drugs Strategy Steering Committee, states, “The findings from the study will significantly support and influence the activities of the Strategy. The study is a really important opportunity to understand issues and enable our efforts to impact substance use and related issues in our community.“

Data collection will conclude over the next several weeks, but Public Health is still looking to hear from specific groups of people about their experiences. We are inviting people who use drugs to participate in one-on-one interviews if they meet any of the following criteria:

  • Live in Waterloo a Regional Township (North Dumfries, Wellesley, Wilmot or Woolwich) or
  • Have an income of $50,000 per year or more

Participants selected for an interview will receive $25. Interested individuals can email PublicHealthResearch@regionofwaterloo.ca or call 519-575-4400 ext. 5382

If you do not meet the above criteria, Public Health encourages everyone interested in participating to fill out an anonymous online survey at www.drugsurvey.ca. The survey takes about 15 minutes to complete.

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Media contact: Kirsten Keil-Mehlenbacher, Coordinator, Health Communications, 519-883-2244 or kkeil-mehlenbacher@regionofwaterloo.ca