REGINA – Opposition New Democrats are again sounding the alarm over overdose numbers in the city of Regina.
At a media availability at the Legislature, the NDP’s new Mental Health and Addictions critic Leroy Laliberte pointed to recent data from Regina Police Services.
He said in their drug overdose report for April, RPS reported 415 cases of overdoses, up from 242 overdoses reported in March. Laliberte also pointed to 21 fatal overdoses in Regina since January.
“The Sask Party government continues to claim that they are expanding treatment spaces and supports for fromtline workers, but these numbers don't lie. Lives continue to be lost and overdoses have continued to rise over recent months. This is not an isolated incident.”
Laliberte also pointed to Saskatoon Fire Department reports that they responded to 680 overdoses in April.
“This means that our two largest urban centres saw 1,000 overdoses in a single month. This is deeply concerning.”
Laliberte cited a “lack of response from this provincial government.” He also noted comments from Premier Scott Moe the previous day in which he pointed to the importance of access points for those seeking treatment, citing the Regina Urgent Care Centre as one of those access points.
“How can a Premier cite this as a necessary access point when the Urgent Care Centre isn't open half the time due to staffing difficulties?” said Laliberte.
“People will continue to slip through the cracks if immediate and urgent action is not taken by this government to address the drug crisis in this province. We need accessible resources and rapid solutions.”
As for what he wants to see done differently, Laliberte pointed to the need for prevention, and for ongoing care after treatment is done. He pointed to the 17 recommendations his party had made to the provincial government already during the spring sitting.
“But they were voted down,” said Laliberte.
“There's no after-care model. It's something that we definitely utilize for those people that are going through treatment. We don't have enough beds already. This is something that the government has talked about numerous times. For the people that actually want to go to treatment, supporting them into a place where they don't have the resources or the services I think doesn't make any sense.”
As for the government’s efforts in combatting the addictions issue Laliberte said this “is a government that's been 20 years in power. They have 20 years to develop some type of a strategy, some type of a plan. They haven't had it.”
“These are not just addicts that we're losing. These are family members.
These are my family. These are friends of mine. These are friends of different people that are in this caucus that we're seeing. They're cutting out programs like Prairie Harm Reduction. This is something that could be utilized — going to the professionals, people that work with the inner city. These are things that could have been done through proper consultation. Could have been done numerous times, but it hasn't been done.”
While the statistics Laliberte cited were from urban areas, he said the overdose issue was province-wide.
“We're seeing it every day. Not only in the city centres, we're seeing it throughout the province, throughout the north. We're lacking services. We don't have the resources to be able to tackle this, nor do we have the staff to be able to do that.”
In response to the NDP media availability, the Ministry of Health provided a lengthy statement in which they said the government is "concerned about the number of overdoses in Regina, and across our province, and the impact they are having on individuals, families, and communities. We are committed to finding solutions to address this complex issue with our partners."
The government pointed to their multi-year Action Plan for Mental Health and Addictions, focusing on "getting more people the addictions treatment they need to overcome their addictions and live healthy, safe lives in recovery."
The Ministry of Health said reducing wait times is continuing to be a priority, including adding 500 addiction treatment spaces across the province. They note that to date 333 of the 500 spaces are available, including 16 sober living spaces at Pine Lodge Addiction Recovery in Regina; 60 inpatient spaces at Willowview Recovery Centre in Lumsden; 41 sober living spaces at St.Joseph’s Addiction Recovery Centre in Estevan; and 42 virtual spaces through EHN Canada.
The province also pointed to investment in Rapid Access to Addictions Medicine Clinic in Regina, launch of an Overdose Outreach Team in Regina, expansion of thr Home Naloxone Kit Program and launch of provincewide Drug Alerts program alerting subscribers to concerns about toxicity of drugs, increases in overdoses, or increases in fatalities in a community. They also point to the recent passage of The Compassionate Intervention Act as a new tool to help individuals who are unable to seek help on their own.
