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Drug deaths decline slightly in Sudbury and area
Drug deaths decline slightly in Sudbury and area

CTV News

time3 days ago

  • Health
  • CTV News

Drug deaths decline slightly in Sudbury and area

While officials say it's no time to celebrate, fewer people died of drug overdoses last year compared to the previous year. Loading the player instance is taking more time than usual Loading the player instance is taking more time than usual Despite a slight improvement in drug deaths in Sudbury and Manitoulin Districts, experts warn not to celebrate just yet. And officials said it's important to remember that fatal overdoses are a tragedy, not a statistic. Naxalone Officials said illegal drugs are being cut with substances that Naloxone -- a medication for opioid overdoses – can't reverse. (Alana Everson/CTV News) 'The reality is that these aren't numbers, these are human people,' said Kaela Pelland, manager of engagement with Reseau Access Network. 'One preventable life lost is too many, and we have seen hundreds and hundreds.' That agency has outreach workers who go out nightly to help substance users around Sudbury. They each carry a 25-pound backpack full of vital supplies. Public Health Sudbury & Districts compiled drug toxicity surveillance information for its catchment area from January to the end of May this year. Drop in emergency calls Fifty-two people died of suspected drug overdose, 10 fewer than the same timeframe last year. The data also found a drop in emergency medical services calls, to 101 calls compared to 207 for the same five months of 2024. And there were 162 calls for emergency medical services between January and May, compared to 290 calls for the same time in 2024. Public Health nurse Rachelle Roy warned not to draw conclusions from what looks like improvements. 'This data is still preliminary and we don't know the full impacts until the Office of the Chief Coroner has completed all those investigations, especially within those most recent months, as they are subject to change,' Roy said. Too early to call it a trend It's too early to determine whether the improved statistics are a blip or part of a positive trend, she said. 'A large portion of those fatalities seen in our catchment area and in Ontario are often people using alone and, in their homes and so they don't have access to Naloxone or EMS,' she said. 'The difficulty of access with transportation can be a significant barrier to people.' Roy and Pelland said addressing the drug crisis requires a collective approach, with health officials working with community partners such as Reseau ACCESS Network. Reseau Access Network Outreach workers with Reseau Access Network go out nightly to help substance users around Sudbury. They each carry a 25-pound backpack full of vital supplies. (Photo from video) Outreach workers from Reseau head out nightly, equipped with what they need to respond to overdoses. 'Look at people and see their humanity, see that their life is just as valuable as yours or mine or our loved ones,' Pelland said. 'They deserve dignity, they deserve respect and they deserve access to health care and treatment that works for them.' She said it's important to recognize that treatment is not 'one size fits all.' 'We all have different relationships with substances, whether they are legal substances, illegal, regulated, unregulated,' Pelland said. 'And we all deserve to have access to health care that suits our needs. The reality is that it is challenging to access those health care points when we're trying to survive every day.'

Police activate licence plate scanners for crime detection on Highway 6
Police activate licence plate scanners for crime detection on Highway 6

CTV News

time02-06-2025

  • General
  • CTV News

Police activate licence plate scanners for crime detection on Highway 6

Stationary automated licence plate readers began operating at the intersection of Highway 6 and Beedahban Miikun in Whitefish River First Nation on May 30, 2025. (UCCM Anishnaabe Police Service/Facebook) Stationary automated licence plate readers (ALPR) are now operational at the intersection of Highway 6 and Beedahban Miikun in Whitefish River First Nation. The system scans licence plates entering and leaving the Manitoulin District, capturing infrared and colour images at a rate of up to two plates per second. Designated officers with the United Chiefs and Councils of Manitoulin Anishnaabe Police Service can flag plates linked to serious investigations, including missing persons cases, homicides, Amber Alerts, human trafficking, drug trafficking and organized crime. 'It is important to clarify that this system is not to be primarily used to detect speeding violations or other offences under the Highway Traffic Act,' police said in a news release. Unflagged plates are automatically purged after seven days to comply with privacy laws. The initiative, which began May 30, was developed in consultation with Ontario's privacy commissioner and aims to enhance public safety and assist law enforcement agencies nationwide. Signage has been installed to notify the public of the ALPR's presence. In the release, police urged community members to report crimes anonymously through Crime Stoppers or directly to local police at 705-377-7135, saying the most effective way to protect the region is to share information. UCCM Anishnaabe Police crest The United Chiefs and Councils of Manitoulin Anishnaabe Police crest on the sleeve of Chief of Police James Killeen during a press conference on Parliament Hill in Ottawa, Monday, June 12, 2023. (File photo/Sean Kilpatrick/The Canadian Press) (Sean Kilpatrick) Authorities said the damage caused by drug trafficking is 'real and lasting.' 'Drug trafficking brings with it serious consequences, including home invasions, violent assaults, homicides, addiction, homelessness and overdose deaths,' police said. 'Together, we can make a difference,' added Police Chief James Killeen.

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