'We don’t have time. Our loved ones are dying': Walpole Island officials and residents to discuss opioid crisis
Residents of Walpole Island First Nation are meeting Thursday to discuss a new approach to the ongoing opioid crisis.
This after a State of Emergency was declared in July after a rise in illicit drug use and overdoses in the community.
“How do we engage ourselves to help these people?” says Chief Charles Sampson.
Speaking with CTV News, Sampson said a critical path forward is needed to address social problems taking place, noting a 24/7 check point that had been erected a month ago was proving ineffective.
“It was actioned without any type of identifiable programming or action plan and more importantly to identify and evaluate its effectiveness and its performance over a month period,” he says.
Sampson says one opioid related death has been reported so far in 2021 and that 12 overdoses were brought to police attention. Sampson believes that number could be higher.
“It quite possibly could be,” Sampson explains. “I don’t know what other types of responses there have been by individuals that have the necessary antidote (Naloxone) to the poisoning effect of the drugs.”
Meantime, the fifth annual Lights for Hope Vigil, honoring those who have died of an overdose, are still fighting the disease of addiction or are in recovery is set to place in on Saturday. Elizabeth Geddes of Hand in Hand Support says organizers anticipate a large turnout.
“A lot of individuals out there still have that mentality that they’re worthless. That there’s no hope for them and that’s just not the case,” Geddes says.
The event is scheduled to start at 6 p.m. at Senator Croll Park.
“We still have a lot of overdoses out there,” Geddes says. “Overdoses are now the leading cause of death in young people between the ages of 19 and 39. We don’t have time. Our loved ones are dying.”
Like officials on Walpole Island, Geddes believes more needs to be done.
“This is a disease like any other disease and I really feel it needs to be treated that way,” Geddes says.
Naloxone kits will be available at the candlelight vigil to raise further awareness to the opioid crisis.
“We’re in an opioid crisis,” says Chatham-Kent’s medical officer of health Dr. David Colby says
He plans to present a report to Chatham-Kent council on Monday detailing the benefits of harm reduction through decriminalizing opioids.
“Really we have to rely on preventing people from becoming dependent and reduce the harm to them and to others in society that dependence causes,” Dr. Colby says.
He says non-criminal consequences like fines, warnings, or even the legalization of opioids could have more positive consequences than the criminality approach.
“I would say this is a pretty mainstream opinion among people that know anything about this,” he says.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Expert warns of food consumption habits amid rising prices
A new survey by Dalhousie University's Agri-Food Analytics Lab asked Canadians about their food consumption habits amid rising prices.
Documents reveal Ottawa's efforts to get Loblaw, Walmart on board with grocery code
It was evident to the federal government as early as last fall that Loblaw and Walmart might be holdouts to the grocery code of conduct, jeopardizing the project's success.
opinion The special relationship between King Charles and the Princess of Wales
Royal commentator Afua Hagan writes that when King Charles recently admitted Catherine to the Order of the Companions of Honour, it not only made history, but it reinforced the strong bond between the King and his beloved daughter-in-law.
Charlie Woods, son of Tiger, shoots 81 in U.S. Open qualifier
Charlie Woods failed to advance in a U.S. Open local qualifying event Thursday, shooting a 9-over 81 at Legacy Golf & Tennis Club.
Improve balance and build core strength with this exercise
When it comes to cardiovascular fitness, you may tend to focus on activities that move you forward, such as walking, running and cycling.
'I just want to be safe': Ukrainian man in Canada faces limbo amid consular freeze
A recent decision to restrict consular services for fighting-aged Ukrainian men has made a Ukrainian man in Canada feel less certain of his next steps — and worried he could be pulled back to the war.
B.C. tenants evicted for landlord's use after refusing large rent increase to take over neighbouring suite
Ashley Dickey and her mother rented part of the same Coquitlam duplex in three different decades under three different landlords.
Mountain guide dies after falling into a crevasse in Banff National Park
A man who fell into a crevasse while leading a backcountry ski group deep in the Canadian Rockies has died.
Dozens of U.S. deaths reveal risks of injecting sedatives into people restrained by police
The practice of giving sedatives to people detained by police has spread quietly across the U.S. over the last 15 years, built on questionable science and backed by police-aligned experts, an investigation led by The Associated Press has found.