Public Health says it has yet to identify the component of the St. Stephen drug supply that is causing toxic drug poisonings in the community. 

Dr. Kimberly Barker, the regional chief medical officer of health, presented to St. Stephen council following a surge in suspected overdoses cases that temporarily strained medical resources in the community.

Ambulance New Brunswick recorded at least 19 suspected overdose calls between Sept. 19 and Oct. 19.

Six of those occurred between Oct. 18 and Oct. 19. 

“We’re not asking you to install safe injection sites although we might be hopeful,” Barker said. “Obviously we’re respectful of where we’re at tonight. So it’s more talking about what currently exists in St. Stephen and Charlotte County at large, so that we can begin to build on the assets rather than commenting on the deficits.” 

Barker said the toxic drug supply is not new to Canada or St. Stephen. She said these recent overdoses looked a little different. 

“We cannot speculate, at this time, what we think the supply is contaminated with,” she said. “At some point, some of our more active dealers in Canada try to monopolize the market, but unfortunately contaminate the supply with much more addictive substances,” Barker said. “We don’t know what that one is right now.” 

Earlier this year, Moncton also experienced a surge of overdoses connected to a toxic supply. 

Medetomidine, a veterinary sedative, was identified in the toxic drug supply in Moncton, Barker said. It remains unclear whether it is the same substance impacting St. Stephen. 

“We again, can’t confirm yet, but we’re on it,” she said. 

She said responding to overdoses with prolonged sedation is more challenging, particularly in rural areas.

“We don’t have a tertiary care centre,” she said. “We’re limited by our emergency response services. We have some more challenging populations in terms of their political or conservative approaches to how they manage drug supplies and so on. We realize that this is unique.” 

Representatives from several levels of government and departments meet daily to review the response to the ongoing addictions and homelessness crisis. 

Barker said Avenue B, a harm-reduction and outreach organization in Saint John, visits the region weekly to provide drug-checking services. 

“We’re really hoping that Avenue B being there again this coming Friday will be able to help us delineate that so that we can adequately address what we’re seeing at the shelter and beyond,” she said. 

Harm reduction approach 

Staff from Horizon Health Network also attended the presentation with Barker to explain the harm reduction approach. 

Holly Richards, with Horizon’s mental health and addictions department, said harm reduction involves evidence-based strategies and services that aredesigned to minimize negative health and social harms associated with substance use.

“It supports stability and leads people to an opportunity for recovery and treatment when they are ready,” she said. “And ultimately it does.” 

She explained substance abuse disorder operates on a spectrum ranging from lower-risk to higher-risk use. She said lower-risk use has less impact on daily functioning, whereas higher does have an impact. 

“There are all kinds of people who struggle with substance use, just in the privacy of their own home,” Richards said. 

All types of people can be impacted by substance abuse, she explained. 

“So acknowledging that abstinence is not the goal for everybody who uses substances is important,” she said. 

Richards said adding things like sharps containers in public places can not only reduce harm to those who use drugs, but the community as a whole. 

Community impact 

Some residents have expressed frustration with the shelter operating at 9 Main St. Nearby residents told The Courier they have experienced disturbances and witnessed fights and what they believe to be illegal drug activity. 

Lighthouse Lodge is operated by the non-profit Neighbourhood Works Inc. It is a wet shelter, meaning people do not need to be sober to access services or stay there. It has 30 beds in total.  

Progressive Conservative MLA Kathy Bockus addressed resident concerns in the Legislative Assembly on Oct. 21. 

“The neighbours around the shelter have reached a breaking point,” she said. “They witness fights among the homeless shelter occupants, the constant screaming of insults all hours of the day and night and then the uproar of emergency personnel at 11:30 p.m. when most of them are in bed trying to prepare for another work day.” 

She asked Social Development Minister Cindy Miles when the shelter would be expected to produce the results for which it was created. 

Miles did not respond directly to the question. However, Rob McKee, the minister responsible for addictions and mental health, said he had spoken with Mayor Steve Backman about the situation.

He said they were fully engaged in the region. 

Bockus also said some residents had been living at the shelter for up to three years. She said she was told there were no goals to move them into more permanent and stable situations. 

“The support the government has been supplying just enables those residing there to continue with their unhealthy lifestyles,” Bockus said. “When can the neighbours expect relief from the hellish conditions they are living in?” 

Miles said there is no one-size-fits-all solution to the homelessness crisis. 

“We are working with the municipality,” she said. “This is a whole multi-department response to this. We know that the numbers are climbing and we know that we can’t support folks unless they are housed. 

“We need the land.” 

A previous council rejected a proposal for a transitional housing project at 199 Union Street due to concerns of proximity to municipal infrastructure. 

At the time, the cost to relocate municipal infrastructure was too high to proceed. The council also acknowledged several letters of concern surrounding the proposal. 

To date, no other land has been identified by the municipality or the province. 

The Department of Health told The Courier that, as of Oct. 26, there were signs of improvement, and that fewer toxic drug poisonings had been reported. 

“We are working closely with health and community organizations to assess and address any immediate concerns related to harmful substances in the area,” the statement said. “The safety and wellbeing of individuals and communities impacted by substance use remain our top priorities.”

The department said it would continue to provide support to the community. 

Neighbourhood Works Inc. issued a statement last week on the surge in overdose cases. However, when contacted Tuesday, the organization directed The Courier to Public Health for further questions about the ongoing drug crisis.