Stigma still exists as Waterloo Region updates suspected drug-related death numbers

As of Aug. 6, there have been 38 drug-related deaths in Waterloo Region according to the latest data from the region’s dashboard.

Helen Fishburn is the chief executive officer (CEO) of the Canadian Mental Health Association Waterloo Wellington. Appearing on The Mike Farwell Show on CityNews 570 on Tuesday she acknowledged the challenges and stigma that still exist when it comes to mental health and addiction.

“There continues to be a really common misperception that addiction is a choice and that people can stop using drugs whenever they want to,” Fishburn said. “Willpower is often a word connected to an addiction when in reality we know addiction is complex.”

When it comes to reducing stigma, Fishburn said even the smallest changes in the language we use can make a difference. She used the example of not using the word overdose, but instead drug poisoning just as alcohol poisoning is used.

“That may seem like a slight difference, but it says a lot about how our society differentiates between alcohol users and drug users,” Fishburn said. “We want to continue to make sure that we’re destigmatizing our language as much as possible.”

Drug-related deaths often come in clusters when there is a high amount of toxic supplies on the street. In those instances, alerts are put out to inform the public about the dangerous situation.

“We do our very best, literally on the streets, to warn people to make sure that they’re accessing safe consumption of treatment sites where they can be monitored and supported,” Fishburn said.

However, Fishburn added that there currently isn’t enough treatment in the region for those who need it.

Another way that people can help is by knowing what to do if they see drug poisoning. Oftentimes, people turn away when they see something on the streets.

“We want to make sure that everyone in our community knows what the right thing is to do, and that’s always to respond to that person,” Fishburn said.

That means attending to the person or calling the Here 24/7 helpline.

Drug poisoning awareness day is on August 31.

Updated overdose data for WR shows 38 suspected drug-related deaths so far this year, as of August 6.

Wellesley and Kitchener have the highest rates locally. (Per 100,000 population) @CityNewsKIT pic.twitter.com/6ek6k4iNxB

— Erin Anderson (@erinbailey_a) August 8, 2023