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.
|
 |
|
 |
|
 |
|
 |
6 pm |
| 13 ℃ |
| OVERCAST CLOUDS |
WIND: NW 25 KM/H
GUSTING TO 47 KM/H |
|
|
 |
7 pm |
| 12 ℃ |
| LIGHT RAIN |
WIND: NNW 34 KM/H
GUSTING TO 60 KM/H |
|
|
|
8 pm |
| 12 ℃ |
| OVERCAST CLOUDS |
WIND: NNW 29 KM/H
GUSTING TO 51 KM/H |
|
|
 |
9 pm |
| 12 ℃ |
| OVERCAST CLOUDS |
WIND: NW 23 KM/H
GUSTING TO 43 KM/H |
|
|
|
10 pm |
| 12 ℃ |
| OVERCAST CLOUDS |
WIND: NW 21 KM/H
GUSTING TO 44 KM/H |
|
|
|
11 pm |
| 11 ℃ |
| OVERCAST CLOUDS |
WIND: NNW 25 KM/H
GUSTING TO 47 KM/H |
|
|
|
12 am |
| 9 ℃ |
| OVERCAST CLOUDS |
WIND: NW 21 KM/H
GUSTING TO 42 KM/H |
|
|
|
1 am |
| 8 ℃ |
| OVERCAST CLOUDS |
WIND: NW 19 KM/H
GUSTING TO 41 KM/H |
|
|
|
|
TODAY |
HIGH OF 24 ℃
LOW OF 10 ℃ |
| LIGHT RAIN |
|
|
 |
TUESDAY |
HIGH OF 22 ℃
LOW OF 7 ℃ |
| CLEAR SKY |
|
|
 |
WEDNESDAY |
HIGH OF 27 ℃
LOW OF 12 ℃ |
| SCATTERED CLOUDS |
|
|
|
THURSDAY |
HIGH OF 29 ℃
LOW OF 16 ℃ |
| HEAVY INTENSITY RAIN |
|
|
|
FRIDAY |
HIGH OF 14 ℃
LOW OF 4 ℃ |
| MODERATE RAIN |
|
|
|
SATURDAY |
HIGH OF 13 ℃
LOW OF 2 ℃ |
| LIGHT RAIN |
|
|
|
SUNDAY |
HIGH OF 7 ℃
LOW OF 5 ℃ |
| LIGHT RAIN |
|
|
|
MONDAY |
HIGH OF 15 ℃
LOW OF 4 ℃ |
| OVERCAST CLOUDS |
|
|
|
|
|
 |
 |
|
| Bc Babycare Mother’s Day Sale - Save Up to 15% Off! |
| |
| Celebrate Mother’s Day with Bc Babycare! Save up to 15% on baby essentials, care products, and parenting must-haves for growing families. |
| |
| Mother’s Day savings end soon - shop Bc Babycare now! |
|
 |
|
 |
|
|
 |
 |
RUSSELL DICKERSON
BEERS TO THE SUMMER
06:48 PM |
|
 |
SEAN STEMALY
4 WHEEL HIGH
06:42 PM |
|
 |
TREA LANDON
NOTHIN
06:40 PM |
|
 |
TREY LEWIS
GIRL PROBLEM
06:37 PM |
|
 |
THOMPSON SQUARE
TESTING THE WATER
06:33 PM |
|
 |
JEREMY LOOPS
LOVEBLOOD
06:29 PM |
|
 |
LOCASH
RIGHT LIFE
06:26 PM |
|
 |
ZAC BROWN BAND
MY KIND OF MEDICINE
06:22 PM |
|
 |
CASSADEE POPE
SECRET
06:20 PM |
|
 |
THOMAS RHETT
BRING THE BAR
06:13 PM |
|
 
 
|
