‘It’s taking a real toll’: Front-line workers speak out about influx of Moncton overdoses

People who help the homeless in the Maritimes say they’re stretched to their limits due to rising overdoses.

Moncton’s overdose crisis is showing no signs of slowing down.

Between June1 and June 24, front line workers from Harvest House Atlantic have managed a total of 873 overdose responses – an average of 36 a day. The total that needed Naloxone intervention was 320 and their highest day was 70 overdose responses.

During the same time period, Ambulance New Brunswick’s dispatch team responded to 377 calls related to suspected overdoses in the Moncton area.

Staff from the Bridge To Home Resource Hub have also been very busy.

The homeless shelter and resource centre, which is run by the John Howard Society of Southeastern New Brunswick, responded to more than 200 overdoses this month.

“The last few weeks we’ve seen an unprecedented amount of overdoses,” said Jo-Ann Brine, the executive director of the John Howard Society of Southeastern New Brunswick. “It’s taking a real toll, not only on our organization and the people that we serve, but on all of our community partners. Especially on our staff.”

Shelter manager Kat Munro said the month of June has been tiring.

“Our staff are showing up day after day and they are supporting the same people that they have built relationships with over years and having to find themselves saving these lives on a regular basis, sometimes the same people in the same shift,” said Munro.

Munro said staff often walk into the shelter’s backyard or bathroom and find someone they know.

“While they are doing everything they have the ability to do, they’re hearing that someone else has gone down. They are hoping that there are staff available for that person as well and that is a very helpless feeling for such compassionate individuals that we have on our staff,” said Munro.

Brine said it’s been emotionally and physically exhausting.

“They’re responding to crisis after crisis, day after day, while continuing to provide 24-hour care,” she said.

Brine also said the crisis is not improving.

“There are days when it’s a little less, but it’s very sporadic and unpredictable and from what we’ve seen it’s not slowing down. They’re still dealing with it day in and day out,” she said.

On Tuesday, the New Brunswick Emergency Measures Organization (NBEMO) announced it had activated to Level 1: Enhanced Monitoring.

NBEMO will now track the municipal and provincial response to the increase in number of drug overdose calls in the area.

The hope for Munro is with NBEMO getting involved they will see more of a clinical presence and they’ll be able to rely more heavily on their health partners.

Munro said the spike in overdoses has users and the people that stay at the shelter scared.

“That fear is there and it’s there every time they use. It’s there every time they leave and come back and they don’t know if someone is going to be there,” said Munro.

To alleviate some of the strain on staff, the John Howard Society have begun the Adopt-a-Shift Initiative.

Staff member Amanda Canning wants front line workers to know how appreciated they are.

“They’re coming in, they’re doing their shift. They’re not taking their time to have breaks and to eat something. They’re just constantly going,” said Canning.

Local businesses, organizations, church groups and people from the community can show their appreciation by providing meals, snacks, drinks or notes of encouragement.

“And that little act of kindness shifts the rest of their shift. It brings that positive moment and it’s increasing morale among the staff,” said Canning.

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