8  H.Q.   Summer 2026
F E A T U R E
a criminal justice issue, but also a 
health and social issue with direct 
implications for public safety and 
community well-being. 
The 
trajectory 
of 
the 
OACP 
Substance Advisory Committee’s (SAC) 
O
ntario’s approach to 
substance 
use 
and 
addiction is undergoing 
significant change. 
At the centre of this 
shift is a growing recognition that 
substance use disorder is not solely 
Ontario’s Evolving Drug Policy: 
Where public health meets public safety 
By Chief Tim Farquharson, Port Hope Police Service; Deputy Chief Natalie Hiltz, Greater Sudbury  
Police Service; and Superintendent Ahmad Salhia, York Regional Police
position reflects this reality. It points 
to the need for evidence-informed, 
coordinated responses that balance 
enforcement, prevention, treatment, 
recovery and harm reduction within a 
broader continuum of care. 

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