(Image: Staff photo)
A poisoned drug supply has led to an increased number of deaths among new and long-time users, according to Julie Dingwell, the executive director of Avenue B Harm Reduction in Saint John.
“Our people are dying; three people last week, two people the week before that and I believe two people the week before that, generally we lose a person every week,” she said in a Thursday interview.
“What we really need is a safe drug supply until everything is well under control.”
The increased death toll has inspired Dingwell’s organization to make plans for an overdose prevention site, which would allow people to use their drug under supervision and receive aid if they overdose.
It would follow a similar model to Ensemble, the harm prevention organization in Moncton and New Brunswick’s only overdose prevention site. Users could access a supply of pharmaceutical-grade products without fear of it being laced with dangerous substances like fentanyl.
Dingwell said out of the number of people Ensemble treats for overdoses, none of them have died.
“We need to get off this high horse that we all know what’s best, because obviously we don’t,” said Dingwell.
“With thousands of people dying across the country, we know for sure that the war on drugs has failed and we need to be doing a better job at keeping people alive. We’re all for people going into recovery programs and doing whatever they can, but dead people can’t recover.”
According to the Saint John Police Force in May, drug overdose calls were up 30 per cent in the first four months of 2022 compared to 2021. Officers responded to about 18 calls over a one-week period from April 23 to 30.
“In at least 8 of these cases, fentanyl was suspected as being the substance used,” the force said in a news release at the time.
Dingwell said many of the recent overdose deaths in Saint John include people who have using drugs for more than 25 years. Since most people are alone when they use a drug, Dingwell said they cannot recognize the signs of an overdose and receive help quickly.
She added it is time for people to be supportive and give everybody a fighting chance.
“They’re our people, they belong to us and they’re the most hurting people among us,” she said. “And yet, they get the shabbiest treatment, like what is that?”
Dingwell said Avenue B’s overdose prevention site is still in the planning stages and the organization is working through policy and putting together a community-led team of staff. She is looking forward to the support from the community.
“We have just terrific support in this community, so I don’t think that this site will be any different. People are very eager to help and be supportive,” said Dingwell.
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