Harm-reduction group using new tool hoping to prevent more fatal overdoses
After seeing a steady rise in overdose deaths in St. Thomas, Ont., advocates have been pushing for a supervised consumption site. But in the meantime, one agency is trying to find creative ways to help prevent more people from dying at the hands of fentanyl.
The Nameless, a grassroots agency, plans to use coloured lights as a way to warn drug users if there is a bad batch of fentanyl going around.
“And if it saves even one person having an overdose, it's a win,” said Brian Elliott, executive director of Inn Out of the Cold, a shelter in St. Thomas.
The volunteer-run group assists over 100 people a week through its outreach programs that serve people experiencing homelessness, mental health issues and substance abuse.
“Folks will let us know that there's a bad batch, we take that information and report it to our health unit,” said Stephanie Miller-Olczak, board administrator of The Nameless, a community funded, harm reduction charity.
“The health unit requires three poisoning reports before they issue a notice. We don’t. We can let the community know right away,” she said.
Even though the Southwestern Public Health Unit will issue overdose warnings to the public through releases, not everyone sees the alerts.
The idea of using lights as an indicator came to Miller-Olczak after buying a few lights from a dollar store for another reason.
“I was playing around with the colours and I thought, ‘What if I stuck a label on it?’ And if there's a bad batch of blue fentanyl we can turn the colour blue and put it in the window,” she explained.
Amanda Zielinski is the board chair of the harm reduction agency. She said they are hoping to hand the lights out to other members of the community, to ensure the message is seen.
“We want to be able to share when people report that there's a bad batch and from there I can send an email saying there's a bad batch of blue, we are lighting up blue tonight. And then our community partner can do the same,” she said.
“I think it's a great idea. Any time community partners can work together to educate our clients we’re much better off,” Elliott added.
“Over the last couple of years, we’ve seen an increase in drug use in St. Thomas. It went from oxycodone to hydromorphone, and now we’re doing fentanyl” said Bobby Wiens, with Standing Together Addicts Share Hope (STASH), a local group trying to assist addicts struggling to fight against the stigma.
He added, “A lot of people think drug addicts are all thieves, up to no good, homeless, have mental health issues, which a lot do but there are people who actually hold down jobs and are in the community.”
Volunteers recommend picking up naloxone kits from your local pharmacy which can help prevent fatal overdoses.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Senate expenses climbed to $7.2 million in 2023, up nearly 30%
Senators in Canada claimed $7.2 million in expenses in 2023, a nearly 30 per cent increase over the previous year.
Pedestrian, baby injured after stroller struck and dragged by vehicle in Squamish, B.C.
Police say a baby and a pedestrian suffered non-life-threatening injuries after a vehicle struck a baby stroller and dragged it for two blocks before stopping in Squamish, B.C.
Tom Mulcair: Park littered with trash after 'pilot project' is perfect symbol of Trudeau governance
Former NDP leader Tom Mulcair says that what's happening now in a trash-littered federal park in Quebec is a perfect metaphor for how the Trudeau government runs things.
Demonstrators kicked out of Ontario legislature for disruption after failed keffiyeh vote
A group of demonstrators were kicked out of the legislature after a second NDP motion calling for unanimous consent to reverse a ban on the keffiyeh failed to pass.
RCMP uncovers alleged plot by 2 Montreal men to illegally sell drones, equipment to Libya
The RCMP says it has uncovered a plot by two men in Montreal to sell Chinese drones and military equipment to Libya illegally.
Government agrees to US$138.7M settlement over FBI's botching of Larry Nassar assault allegations
The U.S. Justice Department announced a US$138.7 million settlement Tuesday with more than 100 people who accused the FBI of grossly mishandling allegations of sexual assault against Larry Nassar in 2015 and 2016, a critical time gap that allowed the sports doctor to continue to prey on victims before his arrest.
BREAKING Canucks goalie Thatcher Demko won't play in Game 2
The Vancouver Canucks will be without all-star goalie Thatcher Demko when they face the Nashville Predators in Game 2 of their first-round playoff series.
Man wanted in connection with deadly shooting in Toronto tops list of most wanted fugitives in Canada
A 35-year-old man wanted in connection with the murder of Toronto resident 29-year-old Sharmar Powell-Flowers nine months ago has topped the list of the BOLO program’s 25 most wanted fugitives across Canada, police announced Tuesday.
Doctors ask Liberal government to reconsider capital gains tax change
The Canadian Medical Association is asking the federal government to reconsider its proposed changes to capital gains taxation, arguing it will affect doctors' retirement savings.