Rising drug toxicity deaths prompt questions
Discussion abounds about whether mental-health and addictions ministry is needed
Drug toxicity deaths took the lives of at least 63 people in Newfoundland and Labrador in 2023, according to the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner.
By sex at birth, these numbers equate to 41 males and 32 females.
Sixteen of these individuals were between the ages of 50 and 59; there were 13 people between the ages of 20 and 29 and another 13 between the ages of 40 and 49. Twelve individuals were between the ages of 30 and 39.
Since 2019, drug toxicity deaths have steadily increased, with 41 drug toxicity deaths in 2019, 35 in 2020, 50 in 2021, and 57 in 2022.
‘CRYING OUT FOR HELP’
There were an additional five sudden deaths in a oneweek period on the northeast Avalon Peninsula and in Labrador, announced Feb. 18 by the Royal Newfoundland Constabulary (RNC).
While those deaths are still under investigation by the chief medical examiner and the cause of death has not been confirmed, the RNC issued a warning that these deaths signalled to investigators a possibility of an increase in the availability of illicit, dangerous, and potentially fatal drugs in the province.
Progressive Conservative MHA Barry Petten, who is the PC party’s health critic, says these deaths are alarming.
“On the steps of Confederation Building several months back, Tina Olivero led the charge, and a lot of parents, a lot of families, from all across the province –– my district included –– were crying out for help, crying out for the government to deal with this (addiction) crisis,” he said.
After that rally, the provincial government announced it was creating an all-party committee on substance use and addictions in September.
Petten is on this committee. He said not much has been done yet beyond preliminary work.
‘ADDICTIONS CRISIS’ IN CANADA
The rising number of drugrelated deaths across Canada has prompted discussion at both the federal and provincial levels.
Laila Goodridge is the member of Parliament for Fort Mcmurray, Alta., and the shadow minister of addictions under the federal Conservative party.
She says Canada is facing an addiction crisis.
“The addiction crisis is coast to coast to coast,” Goodridge said. “I see it in my own community, where people are unfortunately succumbing to drug deaths on a regular basis, and it’s really sad.”
RECOVERY STRATEGY
The federal Conservatives’ addiction policy prioritizes recovery rather than a safe supply strategy.
The Conservative policy is modelled after Alberta’s recovery
model. Alberta defines recovery from addiction as a process of sustained action toward physical, social and spiritual healing and wellness while consistently pursuing a substance-free life.
Goodridge said Alberta is offering a variety of different offroads for people struggling with addiction to seek help.
“In so many communities across this country, people have to either wait on waitlists for months on end or remortgage their parents’ house in order to get into addiction treatment. In my province of Alberta, they have changed that,” she said.
WHAT ALBERTA IS DOING
That province’s strategy includes:
• Adding 10,000 publicly funded addiction-treatment spaces;
• Removing daily user fees on publicly funded addiction-treatment spaces;
• Expanding drug-treatment courts to help break the cycle of addiction-motivated crime by giving non-violent offenders access to judicially supervised treatment and recovery;
• Providing treatment on demand through the Virtual Opioid Dependency Program.
Alberta is not offering safe-supply programs – the strategy the federal Liberal government has endorsed, which is only in action currently in British Columbia and Ontario.
WHAT IS SAFE SUPPLY?
Safe-supply programs provide prescribed medications as a safer alternative to the toxic illegal drug supply to people who are at high risk of overdose.
The Government of Canada’s website says safe-supply services help save lives: “Safer supply services can help prevent overdoses, save lives, and connect people who use drugs to other health and social services.”
Goodridge calls safe supply a “marketing term” and “a dangeous experiment.”
“It’s not safe. We have seen out-of-control addiction in every area where they have applied this so-called safesupply experiment that’s led to ruining so many lives of Canadians and devastated so many communities and families,” she said.
She calls the federal Liberals’ addictions policy “reckless.”
“We are going to bring our loved ones home drug-free by giving them access to treatment and recovery, not more taxpayer-funded deadly drugs, because we believe recovery is possible,” she said.
HARM REDUCTION
The province’s AIDS committee runs the Safe Works Access Program (SWAP) in Newfoundland and Labrador.
SWAP is a harm-reduction service for those who use drugs. It provides safe injection, smoking, sex supplies, and tools for safer drug use, such as syringes, sharps bins, glass pipes, snorting kits, naloxone kits, and drug test strips for fentanyl and benzodiazepine.
Emily Wadden, SWAP’S program manager, disagrees with Goodridge’s assessment of safe supply.
“There is so much research from every program that’s started that suggests (offering safe supply is) the polar opposite,” she said.
Wadden says a safe supply would help eliminate the effects of a toxic drug supply.
“(With a safe drug supply) they know they are getting what they intend to get versus making a gamble like everyone has to do right now,” she said.
DIFFERENT PAGE
Newfoundland and Labrador’s Progressive Conservatives aren’t entirely on the same page as the federal Conservatives.
“(The federal Conservatives) can have their views on that, and they can have their solutions. I don’t know if I align with everything they’re saying, to be quite frank,” Petten said.
“A lot of people don’t understand addiction, and a lot of people don’t understand mental health. That’s a big issue out there.”
While the two parties are united on wanting addictions to end, the one-size-fits-all approach is not the way to address addictions, PC Leader Tony Wakeham said.
“It comes down to the individual. I think what we need to be focused on is how do we help each one of those individuals get through their challenges,” Wakeham said.
MENTAL-HEALTH AND ADDICTIONS MINISTRY
The federal Conservative party has individual MPS dedicated to mental health and suicide prevention, addictions, and health.
Goodridge said Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre decided to separate them because of the severity of the issues.
“We work collaboratively, because not all suicides or mental-health issues are a result of addiction, but sometimes, they are very similar. It allows us to each have a specific focus and make sure we are working collaboratively as a team to make lives better for Canadians,” Goodridge said.
Across Canada, seven of 13 provinces and territories have provincial ministers dedicated to mental health and addictions.
N.L. and Prince Edward Island are the only Atlantic provinces without one.
SHOULD IT BE ADDED?
In an interview with Health Minister Tom Osborne, Saltwire asked for his thoughts on having a ministry dedicated to mental health and addictions in N.L. He said it was the first time he’s been asked that question.
“I’d have to do some analysis and further expand on the answer, but my initial response is we’re working to remove the stigma and say health care is health care,” he said.
“Mental health is the same as physical health and should be treated the same. If you’ve got diabetes, that’s a health issue. If you have mental health, that’s a health issue.”
Petten is against the idea of a ministry dedicated to mental health and addictions. He said N.L. doesn’t need more bureaucracy.
“The cost of a ministry of mental health would be much better spent on the folks that are out there and improving access to services,” he said.
The NDP holds a similar stance, saying the party sees health as health.
PREMIER DOESN’T WEIGH IN
Saltwire sent repeated requests to the Premier’s Office, asking for comment on why N.L. doesn’t have a mentalhealth and addictions ministry and whether it’s needed, and asking for Premier Andrew Furey’s perspective as both a premier and doctor.
The province referred Saltwire to the Department of Health, which provided a written statement.
“Our government is committed to continue to improve mental-health services and supports, and ensure Newfoundlanders and Labradorians are aware of the services and supports available across the province while working to remove the stigma around accessing such services as well,” the health department said.
No statement was provided from the Premier’s Office and Saltwire’s specific questions were not answered.