Overdose deaths increasing in Manitoba, advocates speak out

To do something, Yeah. To keep fighting? Yeah, definitely. Arlene last cold lost her son to an overdose 10 years ago. Whenever she sees new data on drug related deaths, she can’t help but think of those people’s families. There are going to be many people destroyed by by this. The rippling effect of it, the loss. It’ll change them forever. Preliminary numbers from the Chief Medical Examiner’s office shows 445 drug related deaths in Manitoba in 2023. Compared to 418 the previous year. Addictions Minister Bernadette Smith calls the increase concerning and says her government is hard at work on harm reduction. We are working with frontline organizations to work on getting our first supervised consumption site up and running. We are working towards getting drug testing machines out. Smith promising more details in next week’s budget. But advocates want to see a more aggressive approach to reducing these deaths. Marion Willis from Saint Boniface St. Links says multiple government departments need to be at the table with frontline workers to develop a comprehensive plan. You have to understand that addictions crisis is 1 component of a much larger crisis. We have mental health crisis, addictions crisis, a homeless crisis. We’ve got more youth violence than I’ve ever seen in my entire lifetime. Arlene also wants to see a holistic approach involving all levels of government. She says harm reduction isn’t enough and it’s safe supply. That should be on every parent’s mind. You’re not thinking they’re going to need treatment one day. I better advocate for that. I better be ready for that. You’re not going to think about that. But what you need to be thinking about is the pill that they might take on the weekend and they might die from saying the first step in reducing harm is keeping vulnerable people alive. Catherine Dornian, Global News.