As drug overdose cases rise on P.E.I., support group hears objections to rural plans

A Prince Edward Islandnon-profit organization is pivoting on plans to bring harm reduction resources to rural parts of the Island after pushback from some of the locations where it was looking to set up.

PEERS Alliance (the acronym stands for "prevent, educate, empower, respect, support") had planned to make weekly stops at some community rinks and recreation centres across the Island, starting this spring.

The goal was toprovideinformation to people using drugs and the people concerned about them as well as supply items such as naloxoneto reverse overdoses and clean needles for safer drug use.

But that plan changed after some of the venues' operators posted on social media suggesting the locations were unsuitable.

"No one was contacted for dialogue and distributing injection/smoking equipment is undesired on this rink property at any time," the Morell Credit Union Rink said on its Facebook page, noting that seniorsgather there and daycare activities regularly occur nearby.

The Belfast Rec Centre posted that it had learned the group planned to use its parking lot through social media.

"We were not approached and asked permission for this, and we are actively seeking to contact the organization to address this issue," the rink's post said.

The Eastern Kings Sportsplex in Souris and the TignishCredit Union Arena also posted that they had not been informed about upcoming visits by PEERS Alliance and were trying to contact the group.

Why this group had to change its plans for preventing overdoses in rural P.E.I.

4 months ago

Duration 3:04

PEERS Alliance had hoped to take its harm-reduction services to a handful of rinks and rec centres across P.E.I. this summer. The plan had to change after posts on social media suggested the organization take its services elsewhere. CBC's Tony Davis spoke with PEERS Alliance's Angele DesRoches to find out what happened and how the group is moving forward.

Angele DesRoches, theprogram director for PEERS Alliance,said she was aware of theconcernsand recognizes there isa lot of fear and misinformation around harm reduction.

"PEERS Alliance still has a ways to go in terms of building trust and relationships with actors in rural communities, for sure," she said in an interview with CBC News on Monday.

In this instance, the desire to re-engage with rural outreach participants was prioritized over fulsome community engagement. Andwe do apologize for that. Angele DesRoches, PEERS Alliance

"In this instance, the desire to re-engage with rural outreach participants was prioritized over fulsome community engagement. And we do apologize for that."

The group still plans to travel the province, but people wanting to use the service will now need to contact PEERS by phone to set up a meeting place and time.

DesRoches said it's important to offer anonymity to people who are taking illegal drugs, and private appointments will address that concern.

Overdoses starting to rise on P.E.I.

The group's latest harm reduction efforts come as Prince Edward Islandfaces an increase in drug overdoses.

According to provincial records, there were a total of 55 overdoses in 2023,seven of them fatal.

That's up from 2022, when there were a total of 42 overdoses and six people died.

Before the 2023 general election, the provincial government had been looking to set up a supervised injection site in Charlottetown, but the plan never turned into reality. The province said it is still exploring options for a permanent site, but is focusing on providing harm reduction services across the Island as it does so.

What P.E.I.'s public health office is doing to prevent drug overdoses

4 months ago

Duration 2:01

Chief Public Health Officer Dr. Heather Morrison spoke to CBC's Tony Davis about what the latest data on drug overdoses is telling P.E.I. health officials, and what measures her office is taking to prevent them.

Dr. Heather Morrison,P.E.I.'s chief public health officer, said she believes the strategies that have been tried so far are helping prevent deaths.

"We are seeing more overdoses, but we haven't seen the same number of overdoses resulting in deaths," she said in an interview. "So I'm hopeful that this means that having naloxone more readily available is making a difference."

Morrison said the data on overdoses probably doesn't reflect what's really happening on the ground.

According to the province, paramedics responded to 137 suspected opioid-related overdoses in 2023. However, Morrison pointed out that data isn't collected when people who OD don't call for help or go to the hospital.

'They thrive in the darkness'

Illicit drugs have become more toxic in recent years, Morrison said.

"I think fentanyl continues to play a role in our overdoses, both our fatal and non-fatal overdoses here in P.E.I. And we're certainly seeing a mix of other substances involved in our overdoses, as well."

Addictions and substance use thrive when we're not talking about it. They thrive in the darkness. Dr. Alexander Caudarela

Dr. Alexander Caudarela, a family doctor and CEO at the Canadian Centre on Substance Use and Addiction, said it's important to speak frankly and openly about addiction, as you would with other health conditions.

"Addictions and substance use thrive when we're not talking about it. They thrive in the darkness," he said. "It all starts with good discussions, honest discussions about things. And it starts really with love and care and making people feel valued."