Pikwakanagan has suffered “dozens” of overdose deaths because the begin of the opioid disaster, and has lately skilled a devastating spate of opioid-related social points, overdoses and deaths.
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The Algonquins of Pikwakanagan have declared a “state of emergency” because of the escalating toll that fentanyl and different opioids are taking over the group.
Chief Greg Sarazin and the six-member governing council issued the declaration final week after being approached by group members who demanded motion.
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“The group may be very fearful, very involved in regards to the security and well being of our group and our individuals, and so they’ve determined sufficient is sufficient,” Sarazin stated in an interview Wednesday.
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“The group has referred to as the chief and council in entrance of them and stated, ‘Now we have to do one thing about this as a result of it’s hurting our individuals, our group and it’s costing us lives.”
Pikwakanagan has suffered “dozens” of overdose deaths because the begin of the opioid disaster, he stated, and has lately skilled a devastating spate of opioid-related social points, overdoses and deaths.
In declaring a state of emergency, Sarazin stated, the council has issued a name to motion and a request for assist to all authorities businesses.
Pikwakanagan wants extra assets and funding, he stated, to develop and implement a strategic plan to deal with the opioid epidemic, and to beef up enforcement providers locally. The Ontario Provincial Police is now answerable for policing providers on Algonquins of Pikwakanagan First Nation.
“We have to perceive what’s potential, and what varied businesses must contribute to assist us cope with the problem,” Sarazin stated. “From there, we will develop a strategic plan that units out how we stop it, and when it does occur, how will we deal with it, and after we deal with it, what sort of after care we offer to ensure individuals don’t relapse.”
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Any strategic plan that emerges, Sarazin famous, has to supported by the group.
Pikwakanagan’s well being care employees have launched hurt discount methods and schooling campaigns to stop drug use, however have been unable to maintain tempo with the disaster. Sarazin stated the group doesn’t have sufficient employees to assist the entire individuals who want dependancy therapy.
“Our group members have acknowledged that we should entry all out there assets to assist us restore Pikwakanagan to a protected and wholesome group,” the management council stated in a information launch.
Pikwakanagan is positioned about 150 kilometres west of Ottawa on Golden Lake in Renfrew County.
The group may be very fearful, very involved in regards to the security and well being of our group and our individuals, and so they’ve determined sufficient is sufficient
Chief Greg Sarazin
In October, the Renfrew County and District Well being Unit warned residents about a rise in suspected overdose deaths and overdose-related emergency calls. It was the fourth such overdose alert issued by the well being unit this 12 months.
Renfrew County has suffered 34 overdose-related deaths this 12 months – greater than twice as many as in 2022.
“There’s undoubtedly been a rise this 12 months and it’s very regarding,” stated Dr. Jason Morgenstern, Renfrew County’s medical officer of well being.
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Morgenstern stated many elements are concerned, together with the housing scarcity and the rising price of dwelling, which contribute to psychological well being issues and substance abuse. There’s additionally a pattern towards “polysubstance use,” he stated, during which customers combine fentanyl or different opioids with highly effective stimulants.
Ottawa has additionally witnessed a deepening of town’s opioid disaster. Statistics from Ottawa Public Well being present 93 individuals died within the first half of the 12 months as a consequence of opioid overdoses. Final 12 months, 163 individuals died from opioid-related overdoses.
Public well being advocates within the metropolis at the moment are calling for a protected inhalation web site in Ottawa to fulfill the wants of the rising quantity of people that smoke opioids like fentanyl and heroin quite than inject them. Customers typically smoke fentanyl and heroin blended with crystal meth or cocaine – stimulants that may improve the chance of coronary heart assault, stroke and overdose.
Injecting medicine can harm veins and improve the chance of buying hepatitis C and HIV, and plenty of customers have switched to inhalation as a way of hurt discount.
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