Overdose in progress - what the fight against fentanyl looks like on the streets 

This is an national emergency! We are loosing generations. This government has to look at The Mental Health Act and use it. If a person is a threat to their self, they can be formed and put in a mental health unit. From there they should be mandated to a GOVERNMENT rehab centre for a year. This does not conflict with The Charter of Rights And Freedom. The Mental Health Act overrides this. We have empty government facilities that could turned into rehab centres. Canadian government take care of your people. These people are mentally ill and I would bet that what brought them to drugs was mental illness. Example: our population suffers from a huge anxiety disorder. Canadian government..You can do better for your people. My rant for the day

Yeah, the healthcare system supplied my cousin with the opioids that killed her in Lindsay, Ontario. They should be prosecuted.

Here is a point. I lost a couple of friends to prescription drug use supplied by medical people. And I rode as a passenger almost daily for maybe a month in city traffic with a driver who was on prescription opioid drugs without knowing that until she told me.

I was stabbed by one in toronto i got the scar for it. And the Jukie went to jail for 4 months.

@@ashsuri1289 Bad behaviour is why public intoxication on alcohol isn't tolerated, because things not acceptable including attacks on public can happen. How is it that public intoxication on drugs is tolerated and even allowed into some public buildings or government run public buildings while supporting these people or giving "harm reduction" to them(?) I'm guessing someone with too much alcohol can claim it or some of it is drugs and presto, no charges unless actually tested for drugs and found to be publicly intoxicated on alcohol instead.

Notice how they're all Whites.

@@MidNightClub2000why does that matter

@@MidNightClub2000 The paramedics in small town Ontario being mostly whites should stir neither hostility nor pride. You've made a meaningless observation.

@@alexnadon6999 My reply was deleted, we're not allowed to speak the truth.

@@MidNightClub2000 it happens to all, others may not feel comfortable being on camera. for various reasons.

I don't thank CBC at all for the mild reprieve in their censorship. They should always be open and transparent to the taxpayer that foots their bill. I won't laud them for the crumbs they throw us. There are comments I can't even make on this very video. They keep hiding them.

I don't thank them. They should always have this level of transparency. They shouldn't exist, to tell the truth of the matter.

Comment where? They keep deleting my comments.

@@truthsyrup5764 Notice how they're all Whites.

@@MidNightClub2000 Anyone with derogatory things to say about the CBC have their comments removed. Nice level of transparency for an arm of the government I pay money for.

Since Trudeau is was in power the country turned upside down and major increase in random violent attacks. It was never like this before Trudeau

you forgot the biggest issue LOL

@@PristineReviews Fentanyl crisis??

almost entirely due to unsustainable immigration rates. It's going to get way way way worse...like WAY WORSE!

Mass immigration

You can't force people into rehab you weirdo

Thank you for saying this.

Mandatory rehab is unconstitutional in these circumstances in Canada. This is what makes a "Portugal model" difficult to implement here. Legalization & regulation is the ideal means, then you can force users to take warnings/service information and ensure the drug supply is clean.

@@mattpark3135 Making rehab "mandatory" *and* constitutional is already being done, albeit at a very limited scope through provincial Mental Health Acts where the physician makes the call - the addict has to be a danger to themselves or others or they have to be at a "deteriorating condition". Here, rehab hold is enforced by law, however, MHA can only hold someone for up to 72 hours and that is not enough time to do the whole 12 step thing. Expanding it to, say, 30 days (the standard for most rehab clinic programs) would make an enormous difference. You can twist the language or interpretation of the Constitution, like Parliament does every other day, to allow for the 30 days or you can sign an Order-in-Council which basically lets you do whatever you want regardless of the Constitution. OICs are the nuclear option, but the incumbent PM has already used it dozens of times, many of them in secret.

@@mattpark3135 Yes it is and we all pay the price for people not getting the help they need. If their addictions lead to crime then jail and rehab in jail if they accept it. Sad there are so many broken people out there and drug dealers get wealthy selling dangerous drugs.

It's her job. She gets a paycheck for her actions

@@gostarsgo1980you don’t get it…at all.

There is a difference between a job and doing your job with heart. It's like the difference between a waiter at a restaurant just giving you food vs the waiter that goes the extra and makes your time in the restaurant to be memorable. Waiters can get monetary tips for this, but this lady gets the psychological reward​@@gostarsgo1980

​@@pinlight97 Or I live in reality. She wouldn't be doing this if it wasn't her job.

@@gostarsgo1980 RN of 41 yr. Not enough for the phyical and mental pull on an individual. Why dont you try it. You would not do it for one hour

I'm so glad your son was able to get himself on a positive path. We must all remember how any one of us could be in that situation. Here's to one day at a time & continued sobriety.

That is fantastic! Bravo to you for being supportive and your son surviving and pursuing a better life. Respect

I’m so happy after reading your story to hear your son is doing better. I’m also a mom and so I would imagine that you are sleeping better at night and living with less anxiety. Best of luck to all in your family.

Complete waste of valuable resources!

@@galegrazutis964 His statement is still valid.

@@galegrazutis964what would be your solution to this?

They are not just doing and trying the same things. New ideas bring new methods and strategies. The cop is saying we have to keep trying or nothing will change. Your quote is just wrong. Every person or addict has different personalities and needs. There are many paths to success. We can not just give up. At any time in your life you may discover a family member or fiend may develop,a drug or alcohol addiction. I hope you will never there for them.

Thanks for your service. Politicians are using 1st responders so they don't have to try to solve this. Putting people in jail or locked wards ect is unavoidable but very politically damaging. Open air psychiatric hospital/drug scene not allowed even in Europe.

My sister works at Mississauga General. Mental health, homelessness is bad there. So many come into the hospital, to stay warm & to be off the streets at night. Many just ask for a sandwich from the ER fridge, that has food for patients in it. There's no where for many to go. I live in Windsor, & this Spring, my husband was in the hospital downtown for 3 days. When you go into the ER doors, you now have to go through a metal detector & bags/purses are searched. That Friday night was scary in the ER. It was shocking to see policec & security presence to deal with at least two patience that appeared to be under the influence of drugs. I fear it's only going to get worse.

As a dispatcher now it is so disturbing the numbers. I think the public knows it’s bad. But not as bad as it is

I’m actually a nurse in Hamilton and I’ve lived here my entire life! It’s pretty frightening.

That's lots..

I'm so sorry for your loss of your two siblings, Susie.

Your words were hard to read. I’m so sorry about your brother and sister losing their fight with drugs addiction. I hope you have found joy to fill the void. They would want you to be happy.

Decent mental health care is the solution. Without it, nothing can change. People will always find a way to self medicate. Alcohol, drugs, self harm, suicide. These they will turn to if you just cut the drug supply. What they need is hope, believing in the possibility of change. The ones you see on the street lost hope, see no chance for change. Don’t even believe anyone cares. And lately it looks like they’re right. We need free and accessible mental health services. Maybe pop up walk in mental health clinics near areas most needed, like homeless camps etc. No judgement, no shame. I want every Canadian to feel worthy. Free phone access at these pop ups would be great too. Phone home and let your loved ones know you are alive.

Time for u to do some research on addiction to learn something about facts

Rough take, look up the war on drugs.

A major part of the issue with treating overdoses is that responders and hospital staff don't always know what the client is overdosing from. Fentanyl? sure.. but what's it cut with? Legalizing drugs (like say marijuana) means that a government agency would need to give approval of whatever drug was sold in stores, which means that whatever the customer gets is a known quantity: you go to buy fent, you get fent… not fent + benzos or fent + whatever. A significant number of ODs come from customers simply not knowing exactly what they're taking. Legalizing drugs (or safe supply programs) takes a lot of the guesswork out of it, so that a customer can better predict what's going to happen when they dose.

I am telling you arrest these drug people and put them in jail gor at least 2 years where they can get counselling and retain for jobs?? Yes when you can't look after yourselve and cause social issues you LOOSE YOUR FREEDOM!!@

They don't even want the help. They run and hide from it were forcing them to take help while taxpayers who are depressed are waiting in massive lines for psychiatrist's. Make it make sense

I'm sorry for the loss of your brothers. ❤

@@juniperabbott2614 thank you

56 years old, what Job is she gonna do in this crumbling society? What skills? They're better off dying out there for their sake. People who are educated withought monkeys on their back can barely feed themselves.

I saw someone in the area break free of fentanyl and other drugs for several years now, and he is back to sinking his time into working in the trades. It's a beautiful thing to see!

Congrats on your recovery.

That is an amazing idea .... good education tool.

I was shocked to see how bad the drug crisis has gotten in Pembroke & I'm sure in Renfrew County & the surrounding areas. Fentanyl is bad enough & now we're seeing the animal tranquilizers being mixed in with the drugs too.The open sores sometimes right to they're bone & it can cost them their limbs or life. It's also another added problem for police, firefighters & EMS who respond to these calls. Crime rates go up.There are medications that will help them detox without the horrendous side effects & still give them their high until they are ready to slowly be whined off the meds but it can't be done while their living on the streets. It's now societies problem bc parents are out with they're children having to watch that their child doesn't pick up a needle or step on one. No parent wants to expose their children to that or the homeless camps & all that's discarded there. It's a health hazard that should be a priority yet our Government doesn't seem to want to put money where it's needed. Schools need to start educating children about drugs starting in grade 6 bc not all parents teach their children about the effects of every drug out there & what it will do to their bodies & life. I don't know how things got so bad where so many people including the 🇺🇸 turn to drugs @ this level. To me the internet with all the social media & it's content along with IPhones seemed like people stopped connecting or getting to know there neighbors or help the community their living in. Youth bought into all what's not real when it comes to seeing certain celebrities on the internet or certain music artists. I'm glad you did this video & the great people like Lori & others trying to help & make a difference. We need more love, understanding, compassion & tolerance bc it seems like the world is a mess & we needs it! ❤Ontario, 🇨🇦 🐾

The pharmaceutical company's should be building rehabs, looking into something that will help addiction instead of just putting them on methadone etc. They caused this big mess pushing oxycontins on People for everything , cramps, headaches saying it's safe when they knew better ,then government cutting them all off at once, what did they think would happen. They need to make amends for this fiasco driven by greed

@@lorricannon189 it is really bad ... we have seen an increase of tent encampments, people sleeping stand up and other things. All levels of government are to blame for this.

@@kimgraham9671 Methadone clinics are joke ... unless you live outside of town and not associate with those people with this addiction or strong family support or both. IT FAILS IN MOST OR ALL CASES.

Completely agree

I request prayers for my sons, as a single mom, it is scarey, ,.

@@user-md3li7kx2z I understand. Dreading that call. Your sons have prayers from me. Please add my daughter to your prayers. The most helpless I have ever felt as a mom. I am also a single parent like you.

@@user-md3li7kx2z I hear you. It is very scary. And no one understands except another parent in the same situation. I am a single parent I have only one child and after a devastating loss, she began to self medicate the grief away. Comfortably numb I call it. I will never give up on her. Never stop praying. I will gladly pray for your boys as well. Stay strong and hopeful. Miracles happen every day.

I hope people in real estate make more money by the government garnishing welfare checks to pay rent instead of it going towards fentanyl. Working in homeless shelters I've seen all too many instances where someone's government cheque is funding their addiction, and they end up homeless because their rent is not paid.

You may want to look at which country has the highest rate of overdose deaths in the world for addicts under the age of 25. Finland's system isn't working like you dream it is. Finland population about 5.5 million people. Isolated country. Yet overdose deaths abound

(IMO) You know how they have student housing for college ... they need a building like that with bedrooms and small bathroom in each room with a common kitchen and entertainment or common room space... Most of the people are on government assistance already ... pay directly to the housing agency. Maybe have an office or space so government agencies, addiction counseling, social workers whoever that can meet with them to help them.

@@jameshenrie your idea, infact IS how the " Housing First" program seems to work. It's actually an American 'initiative' but never really took roots there. It's all supportive housing, with service components delivered by various community agencies, on location in residents buildings. The programs is progressive, starting with a private room.

She’s an advanced care paramedic not a police officer

I never asked for public health care, but it was here when I got here. I would much rather pay out of pocket and have free market, competing clinics, which I could peruse reviews on and choose accordingly. So I can be rewarded for my choice to eat healthy and exercise regularly.

well said....this is what i keep saying over and over again.....we as 'normal taxpaying citizens' are the great losers in this grand scheme of things.....drug use is a selfish crime and others have to pay the price for their egoism.....meanwhile crime soars no one is safe and the cities look like trash cans

@@kayluley3209 you must not have a family member living in that high risk environment or you would know “throwing their life away” isn’t something you wake up one morning and decide is a good lifestyle choice. And trust me, it can happen to you or a loved one of yours any day. This could be your brother, son, mother, daughter.

As if your dietary and lifestyle choices didn't contribute to your medical emergency?!! You've just been throwing your life away more slowly and with more frequent bad choices. I wonder how somebody who was the victim of a car accident would feel being next to you in the hospital, where you were given priority for your 'throwing your life away' one burger at a time, while all they did was drive home from work. Widowmakers don't just happen, you did that to yourself too

I agree

This is a deeply ignorant comment. So much ignorance and such misplaced judgement.

@jessd4048 do you work in the field? That's how it is. The person who is revived from an over dose is angry that the person ruined their buzz and wasted the drug. Sorry. That's how it is.

@@nearcancelled I’ve been personally and professionally in this field for over 40 years. Forgot more about this crisis than you will ever know.

So very true saw this in Calgary non stop. They are helped they get mad they go get more drugs and overdose again. Never ending cycle the paramedics are tired

@@derekpam7149 a majority of paramedics in Calgary detest the street involved population which was a problem before fentanyl ever hit the streets. Everyone looking for someone to blame and never recognizing the part they play in creating & *exacerbating* this disaster.

Data and previous efforts prove that forcing ppl into rehab doesn't work. Ppl like you might feel better but it doesn't work, you're only detaining ppl against their will.

@@lizliz4186 so what does work? We can’t just wait until they eventually overdose. That seems cruel if you ask me. There has to be something to help them get over this.

What sort of rehab? It's almost the uniform population of the homeless that have severe mental illness, that also wind up on these hard drugs. Their health outcomes would certainly be better if they were in long-term mental health facilities.

@@lizliz4186 A month long detox doesn't work but a two year stay in an institution would provide the time to learn to live without drugs. How many would decide to return to that life after so long? I know if my loved ones were in that situation, I would want that chance for them vs enabling. That would actually be helping.

There is no magic drug to treat opioid addiction. The society needs to recognize forcing rehab is the only way to recover. China (Opium War) and Japan (Post WW II crystal meth crisis) has been through this before. We are acting like we know better than what history teaches us.

She is an ambulance driver

You think they do drugs cuz they do not have affordable housing? You need to go talk to these people and hear the horrible traumas they have been thru no housing is going to help the pain they have

@@derekpam7149they are probably referring to Finlands approach. First homeless are given housing with no strings, then the people seek out mental help and sober living options. None of that is going to happen if they don’t have a secure place to live.

Ask a social worker what hard to house means. It means they wreck every place they are given for free.

@@HattoriHanzo-fg8cy That's because in Canada our governments (mostly provincial) have completely GUTTED our healthcare system by cutting funding to it dramatically, meaning there's virtually no supports for those people once they're in a place. We'd need to build out and fund a robust network of mental health care and treatment centers to ever have a hope of it working - not to say I disagree with the approach, housing first is ABSOLUTELY the way forward. Not only is the it most humane but it's the most effective.

@@Fenthule Well I completely disagree. Treatment of addiction is the first step. Build facilities outside of the cities and when you check in you have to stay for minimum 90 days. There is food, counselling, medication, everything. Then you can have transitional housing.

What is "easy" about it?

They don't choose life so why should we try and force them

We can’t afford anymore money into this actually.

​@@derekpam7149into what

@derekpam7149 we either pay now or pay way more later. Preventative measures are always cheaper in the long run

​@kateparks1665 Raising and caring for children properly is the best preventative measure. Social programs will always be needed to some degree, but early trauma and hardship lead people down some dark roads.

​@@Mrs.Currie yes, and back in my day , social workers never checked to see how kids were doing after their trauma ended. The offender gone well problem must be gone. Left to try and fix ourselves

🎯🎯🎯

Amen brother!

Amen

I cannot believe they want to live any meaningful life. If they wanted to live then why would they keep taking that poison? Maybe it's time to let the drugs take its course and NOT keep bringing them back. Because look at what's happening to their bodies. Those folks look like ghosts, their bodies destroyed by that tortuous poison. Look at what the drugs are doing to their skin? It's all crazy and it's looking like an unending problem.

The way we are addressing addiction now is "continuing" (perpetuating and exacerbating) it. Why do you assume anyone with an addiction isn't hard working?

What kind of horrible society you would have us live in. Where the homeless and addicted aren’t entitled to a life. Please start naming a few things more important than the life of a fellow Canadian since you seem to have hundreds of them.

@@kateparks1665 cause in general drug addicts laying around on the sidewalk all day and night are not hard working people, this is not an assumption.

It's a white issue

One bedroom apartment (Rent), Hydro, heat, food, phone.... maybe that is the calculation for it. Simple first, last, security, and utilities

And likely, those arrests did little to help stop people from using drugs again. Why keep spending money and time and resources on something that doesn't work, instead of trying something different?

What about using particular drugs is criminal?

Windsor eh? Yeah, I know it well. I grew up there, left in 2015. I spiralled into addiction in Windsor…2007 -2010. I’m glad I got sober and left though. 😭

​@@missindependent1973That's awesome! Good for you I am happy you are a survivor of this mess

This is a deeply ignorant statement

@@jessd4048 is matt lying though?

​@@jessd4048have you been an addict? If you had you would know that most people need someone to pull them out of their addiction. These drugs take away your ability to think. Continuing to give those afflicted more drugs is at the very least uninformed.

@@dooly-ch8xr yes- in specific because the services people want and need including basic safe & dignified housing and immediate access to detox and treatment when people are ready DO NOT EXIST. They are not prioritized and haven’t been for literal decades. It is known by all stakeholders that the system of detox & treatment is inadequate but everyone conspires to pretend the failure is a matter of individual moral failure by ‘horses that won’t drink’ instead of a coordinated system failure that denies water for weeks & months- until someone comes up with the bright idea to ‘force feed water’ to the non-thirsty leaving the thirsty to perish- a scenario that only gets worse & worse…

It’s so much more complicated than your post makes it sound……do you honestly believe a person WANTS to be a drug addict?

🎯🎯

Does that mean people that can't spell too

Only the comments they like are going up though. Be aware of shadowbanned comments.

@@truthsyrup5764 They outright deleted my comment that told them they should always have this level of transparency. Lol.

I’ve been in recovery since 2010, we definitely recover ❤ gotta have compassion, empathy….