Fentanyl deaths and overdoses from drug abuse have become major social issues.
In Saskatchewan, during 2024, there were 238 deaths related to drugs, with 128 caused by the potent drug fentanyl.
The overdose drug death rate is affecting the expected longevity in Canada, with British Columbia, Alberta and Ontario leading in these deaths.
Saskatoon Fire Department responded to 29 overdoses a day in one week in March.
Fentanyl and homelessness are closely connected. People who feel forgotten, isolated and with no hope turn to drugs to get away from the mental anguish.
Homelessness is also a major issue, with no permanent place where the homeless can go permanently in our modern era. The homeless are the lepers of ancient times, who were then relegated to live in colonies.
Hardly anybody wants anything to do with them, yet they are people. They are brothers and sisters, sons and daughters. Some are mothers and fathers.
Sending them to a colony like the lepers would be unacceptable.
The political debate is focused on two strategies. One involves safe drug places where fentanyl can be checked for toxic content and life-saving naloxone applied to any overdose.
The other side considers drug use a crime and wants jail time for users and forced recovery treatment.
Both strategies are used in Canada. The issue continues to grow. Neither is by itself a solution.
In the United States, numerous counties and some state programs have cut overdoses and fentanyl deaths sharply.
Virginia State programs reduced fentanyl overdose deaths by 46 per cent from the 2021 period. One county, Chesterfield, has cut them by 49.8 per cent.
Other counties and states have seen large declines.
How did they do it?
It took the whole community to get involved, according to one source.
Police responding to drug incidents hired a person who had been through addiction to come along.
They talked the same lingo and could better understand what addicts are going through.
Naloxone kits were made freely available to drug users to help them if they overdosed. Free toxicity tests of drugs were made available to users.
Users were encouraged to join recovery programs. It took building their trust in the system to get them to join recovery programs.
One county offered a recovery program in the county jail and was flooded with requests to join up.
Most important was finding permanent homes for homeless people to give them some hope.
There may be other reasons contributing to lower death rates.
People have varying reactions to fentanyl. One theory holds that those with low tolerance to the drug are dead now, so fewer will die in future.
Many users have become more interested in pre-testing for toxicity, thus reducing deaths.
The prevalence of naloxone kits has made use safer.
Until the public agrees that drug addiction, while a crime, is a mental health issue, solving the overdose issue will not happen.
Ron Walter can be reached at [email protected]
The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the author, and do not necessarily reflect the position of this publication.
