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St. Stephen First Responders Overwhelmed by Overdose Calls
22 Oct
Summary
- Nine individuals treated for suspected overdoses at a St. Stephen shelter.
- First responders are reportedly 'stressed beyond belief' by the volume of calls.
- Ambulance resources were stretched, raising concerns about other emergencies.
First responders in St. Stephen, New Brunswick, are experiencing extreme stress following a night of continuous 911 calls related to suspected drug overdoses at the Lighthouse Lodge shelter. On Sunday night, nine people were treated for these suspected overdoses, with six requiring hospitalization.
The incident has caused significant concern within the community and among emergency personnel. The calls were so frequent that they significantly impacted the availability of ambulances from across the county, raising alarms about the potential for delayed responses to other emergencies like fires or medical incidents.
Provincial officials are actively reviewing requests for additional support for volunteer firefighters who are frequently called to assist with overdose responses. Lessons learned from a similar surge in Moncton earlier this year are being considered as the province evaluates its strategy for addressing these demanding situations.
