SHARE ON: |
| |
| |
 |
 |
|
|
During the first three months of 2021, the Regina Police Service (RPS) said there has been 39 apparent overdose deaths, compared to 12 deaths in the same time period last year.
One of those was Mo Hasting’s cousin, Steven McInnes. Hasting said she texted McInnes the week before he died.
“On March 24th, he says, ‘I’m just having trouble trying to get out of this depression, it’s got me spinning. Staying clean, but that’s it,’” Hasting said, reading McInnes’s text to her.
Hastings said McInnes went on to ask her if she knew if a detox centre was taking people in.
“He said, ‘All I want is some help.’”
McInnes never ended up getting into a detox centre. He died of an overdose on April 3.
“I’ve lost quite a few people to the overdoses of fentanyl in the last few weeks,” Hastings said. “It’s hard to see the children that are impacted by parents dying because they didn’t get the help.”
Between January 1 and March 31, 2021, RPS said there have been 454 overdose events.
“This continues to be a challenge that we are seeing daily in our city,” Regina Police Chief Evan Bray said during Tuesday’s Board of Police Commissioners meeting.
All Nations Hope Network’s Margaret Kisikaw Piyesis said the pandemic has made the problem worse.
“Places have been shutting down their services since the beginning of COVID, and people aren’t able to gather and look for that support,” said Kisikaw Piyesis.
She said critical services -- like All Nations Hope -- have remained open throughout the pandemic, but they need more support.
“We need to really look for solutions for people who are actively injecting,” said Kisikaw Piyesis. “Otherwise, the government is going to end up paying a lot more in the long run.”
Earlier this year, the province approved an overdose prevention site at the Friendship Centre in Regina, but didn’t give it any additional funding. The province said it is trying to expand supports.
“On the addiction side, its roughly 62 million into addictions this year. Theres a portion of that funding for harm reduction supports. Weve done a number of things but its imperative that we try to get to some of these implemented as quickly as we can,” said Everett Hindley, the minister for mental health and additions.
Hastings said funding needs to go to rehab and detox centres, along with safe consumption sites.
“The wait lists at detox are months-long. When people need help, they need it now,” she said. “And then when we do get people into rehab, they can only take eight people at a time. The demand is far more than that.”
But until more funding happens, Hastings is asking anyone who uses drugs to stay safe and make sure they know what it is they may be taking.
“Everybody has a choice to make, and hopefully you know that people are here to help you, if you want to help yourself,” said Hastings.
|
 |
|
 |
|
 |
|
 |
11 am |
| 14 ℃ |
| OVERCAST CLOUDS |
WIND: WNW 37 KM/H
GUSTING TO 58 KM/H |
|
|
|
12 pm |
| 14 ℃ |
| OVERCAST CLOUDS |
WIND: WNW 36 KM/H
GUSTING TO 58 KM/H |
|
|
|
1 pm |
| 14 ℃ |
| OVERCAST CLOUDS |
WIND: WNW 31 KM/H
GUSTING TO 49 KM/H |
|
|
|
2 pm |
| 15 ℃ |
| OVERCAST CLOUDS |
WIND: WNW 32 KM/H
GUSTING TO 42 KM/H |
|
|
|
3 pm |
| 16 ℃ |
| OVERCAST CLOUDS |
WIND: WNW 29 KM/H
GUSTING TO 38 KM/H |
|
|
|
4 pm |
| 16 ℃ |
| OVERCAST CLOUDS |
WIND: WNW 28 KM/H
GUSTING TO 37 KM/H |
|
|
|
5 pm |
| 15 ℃ |
| OVERCAST CLOUDS |
WIND: WNW 23 KM/H
GUSTING TO 33 KM/H |
|
|
|
6 pm |
| 15 ℃ |
| OVERCAST CLOUDS |
WIND: NW 19 KM/H
GUSTING TO 32 KM/H |
|
|
|
 |
TODAY |
HIGH OF 16 ℃
LOW OF 12 ℃ |
| LIGHT RAIN |
|
|
 |
WEDNESDAY |
HIGH OF 23 ℃
LOW OF 12 ℃ |
| SCATTERED CLOUDS |
|
|
|
THURSDAY |
HIGH OF 25 ℃
LOW OF 14 ℃ |
| OVERCAST CLOUDS |
|
|
|
FRIDAY |
HIGH OF 16 ℃
LOW OF 10 ℃ |
| MODERATE RAIN |
|
|
|
SATURDAY |
HIGH OF 13 ℃
LOW OF 7 ℃ |
| OVERCAST CLOUDS |
|
|
 |
SUNDAY |
HIGH OF 14 ℃
LOW OF 6 ℃ |
| FEW CLOUDS |
|
|
|
MONDAY |
HIGH OF 15 ℃
LOW OF 8 ℃ |
| BROKEN CLOUDS |
|
|
|
TUESDAY |
HIGH OF 16 ℃
LOW OF 9 ℃ |
| SCATTERED CLOUDS |
|
|
|
|
|
 |
 |
|
| KingCamp Khan Bell Tents – 10% Off! |
| |
| Upgrade your outdoor adventures with KingCamp Khan Bell Tents. Save 10% on premium camping comfort with code KHAN10 at checkout. |
| |
| Use code KHAN10 to save 10% on KingCamp tents! |
|
 |
|
 |
|
|
 |
 |
AVA MAX
DONT CLICK PLAY
11:22 AM |
|
 |
MEGHAN TRAINOR
POTENTIAL
11:19 AM |
|
 |
LIL DICKY
FREAKY FRIDAY
11:13 AM |
|
 |
ARTY
YOURE NOT ALONE
11:09 AM |
|
 |
NICKI MINAJ
TURN YO CAP BACK
11:05 AM |
|
 |
CLOVERDALE
KEEP DANCING
11:02 AM |
|
 |
AVRIL LAVIGNE
BIRDIE
10:58 AM |
|
 |
KSHMR
ANYWHERES HOME
10:55 AM |
|
 |
CEDRIC GERVAIS
WE ARE FAMILY
10:53 AM |
|
 |
LUCA TESTA
ALL IN MY HEAD
10:50 AM |
|
 
 |
