The opioid epidemic has stretched the resources of communities. Downtowns have become centres for extensive and excessive drug use often out in the open and in public spaces. People look to the police to address this complex issue but is it up to the police to lead the efforts to find solutions to societal issue?
Port Hope Police Service Chief Tim Farquharson joins me to talk about the role of policing in addressing the opioid epidemic. Chief Farquharson is a member of the Canadian Association of Chiefs of Police Drug Advisory Committee and is also the past Chair of the Ontario Association of Chiefs of Police (OACP) Substance Advisory Committee.

Chief Farquharson has spoken extensively on the concept the four-pillar approach to the drug crisis in communities and he has travelled across North America to discuss policing and drug issues.