Fredericton police, fire warn of significant increase in overdose calls

The Fredericton police and fire departments are joining other New Brunswick cities in warning residents about increasing fentanyloverdose calls.

The Fredericton Police Force said Tuesday that it's marking a significantincrease in drug overdoses in the city, on track to surpass last year's numbers.

In 2023, police responded to 64 overdose calls in total, but have already responded to 60 overdose calls so far this year, according to a news release.

The Fredericton Fire Department has seen overdose calls triple in the last five years, said David McKinley, assistant deputy chief.

"We want to get the message out because most people never see this, don't know anything about it, until it affects them," he said in an interview.

'Exercise extreme caution'

The fire department responded to 104 overdose calls to date in 2024, compared to 78 within the same time in 2023.

In a joint news release, the two departments said anyone using drugs should "exercise extreme caution."

There is only one safe injection site in the province, located in Moncton. New Brunswick advocates have been calling for more sites, where people can have their drugs tested before using them.

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Fredericton police and fire departments are warning residents of a significant increase in overdose calls, specifically involving fentanyl.

Safe injection sites are equipped with naloxone, oxygen, staff trained in CPR and someone to call for an ambulance.

In May of 2023, firedepartments in Moncton and Saint John raised the alarm on the increasing numbers of overdose calls.

At the time, Kevin Clifford, Saint John's fire chief and EMO director, said the calls had not been to homelessencampments, but to wealthier neighbourhoodsall over the city.

McKinley said this is part of the message he's trying to impart: Drug overdoses, especially with powerful drugs like fentanyl, can happen to anyone from a regular user to someone trying it for the first time. He said it's important to increase awareness so there can be systemic change to support people struggling with addiction.

"I think the political will is there, but the public will has to be there to push it ... because it's not going to be easy."

The province is working on adding 50 long-term treatment bedsto address the months-long waiting listfor treatment.

Debby Warren, executive director of Ensemble Moncton, previously said about 300 individuals regularly access the supervised injection site. She said many of her clients have been waiting for years for access to services, including treatment and housing.