CHAT News file photo

By Darren Rathwell

Fatal drug overdoses rising in Medicine Hat: Police

Nov 16, 2021 | 5:37 PM

MEDICINE HAT, AB – Medicine Hat police say the number of fatal drug overdoses in the city are rising, and there could be at least twice as many such deaths in 2021 compared to last year.

“Over the last few months I’ve seen those numbers increase so there were 22 (fatal overdoses in Medicine Hat) as of August and I’d suggest they’re close to 30 now,” Medicine Hat police chief Mike Worden told CHAT News.

Recently Worden used social media to raise the issue and the need for a solution.

“It’s not just one organization that’s going to solve this. It’s going to take all of us in a room, and conversations, and support for these people (with drug issues) with resources,” Worden said.

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A supervised consumption site is often cited as a potential resource for those struggling with addiction.

Worden isn’t convinced a site alone would solve the issue but Kym Porter with the Medicine Hat Drug Coalition would like to see one in Medicine Hat.

“We seem to think that if we don’t have a supervised consumption site that people will stop using and then the whole city becomes an unsupervised site, ” Porter said, adding she thinks a tainted illegal drug supply is behind the increase in overdose deaths, and that there were 15 in 2020 alone.

Worden couldn’t confirm if tainted drugs are responsible but says most calls police respond to are fentanyl-related.

Meanwhile, Porter says dispelling the stigma surrounding drug use is key in saving lives.

Her son Neil died five years ago from a drug overdose.

“He struggled with substance use for many years and we reached out within this city for resources and…I didn’t know what to do,” Porter said.

However, she says she’s hopeful the new city council in Medicine Hat will help address the issue of drug addiction in the city, noting she’s met with Mayor Linnsie Clark since she was elected to discuss her concerns.