About LIFT
Lanark Integrated Frontline Team (LIFT) is a mobile unit bringing health and social support to Lanark County residents.
(Our GOAL)
Our goal is to focus on people facing barriers to traditional services. Our mission is to meet you where you are — physically, emotionally, and socially. We walk alongside you on your journey toward wellness.
(Our guiding principles)
Compassion
We approach every person with empathy, respect, and dignity.
Empowerment
We provide education and resources about substance use, health, and wellness. These help people and communities make informed choices.
Accessibility
Our services are mobile, flexible, and non-coercive. We go and offer support wherever people live and gather, without barriers or judgment.
Community Connection
LIFT is rooted in Lanark County. It reflects local needs, voices, and strengths. We foster collaboration and trust. LIFT builds bridges between people and the supports they need.
Our Partners
Funding
LIFT is funded by Health Canada’s Substance Use and Addictions Program (SUAP), a national initiative that supports prevention, harm reduction, and treatment services across Canada.
The Need in Our Community
In Leeds, Grenville, and Lanark counties, opioid- and drug-related emergencies continue to place steady pressure on local hospitals and emergency services. Data from emergency departments shows that substance-related harms are not isolated incidents, but an ongoing pattern affecting residents week after week.
Adults between the ages of 20 and 64 are most frequently impacted, with men experiencing disproportionately higher rates of emergency visits and overdose-related harms. Locally, fentanyl and cocaine are the substances most often involved in fatal overdoses, reflecting broader provincial trends — but with very real consequences at the community level.
Local indicators highlight the scope of need:
Emergency departments in the region see an average of 11 opioid- or drug-toxicity-related visits per week
Hospital admissions related to drug toxicity average nearly two per week
Most opioid-related emergency visits involve
working-age adults, with higher rates among men
Source: Government of Canada
Fentanyl and cocaine
are the most commonly detected substances in local opioid-related deaths
Source: Government of Canada
These patterns reinforce the importance of mobile, coordinated responses that integrate harm reduction, primary care, and social supports — especially for people who face barriers accessing traditional services.
LIFT was created to respond to this reality with consistency, dignity, and care.
