The mayor of the Municipality of Cumberland says it’s going to take a community response to deal with opioid addiction following a pair of deaths in Springhill last week.
“We’ve had two tragedies in the community and the community is really reeling from this,” Murray Scott said at a meeting hosted by Nova Scotia Health in Springhill on Wednesday, Dec. 13, 2023. “We’re aware of addictions issues, not just in this municipality, but throughout the province.”
Mental Health and Addictions organized the meeting to offer information on overdose prevention and to offer support to people in the community.
“It has to be a community response. I personally believe as a former police officer who served more than 20 years there is no one organization that can address this on their own, we really need a collaborative effort,” Scott said. “I’m appreciating the fact those people are willing to come here to allow the community to share their experiences and to listen.”
Nova Scotia Health hosted an information session at the Dr. Carson & Marion Murray Community Centre in Springhill on Wednesday, Dec. 13, 2023, to help the community in response to a pair of overdose deaths in the community last week. Darrell Cole – Municipality of Cumberland photo
Scott said it’s important for families to never feel as though they are alone. If they are aware of someone in their own home or in their community struggling with addictions issues that there is help. He said there are a lot of people who are willing to listen and to help.
He hopes the meeting is a positive step.
“The professional people here today are the people who can help and we also have a new citizens group called Save Our Families whose members have had loss themselves. They’re bringing families together to see how they can help themselves and seek assistance,” the mayor said.
Richard Harrison of Save Our Families said the group’s priority is to help those struggling with addiction and to find a shelter for those struggling with housing security.
“Right now, help is almost non-existent unless you have a lot of money and we know there are a lot of people in the community who are struggling with housing as well as with addiction,” said Harrison, whose nephew lost his battle to addiction in July. “We want to help people now and into the future because it’s ongoing problem that’s not going to solve itself.”
Bertha Harrison said Springhill is in a crisis situation and the community is losing a lot of people.
“Our main goal is more accessible health care locally and we want to provide a 24-hour shelter within our community. When Daniel was really sick, I had to send him to Moncton because it was the only available place. I sent him away in February and he came home in a cardboard box in July. That’s not fair,” she said. “If you go to prison you’re allowed to stay in your own community near family, why not them. They need the connection; we need the connection.”
Janah Fair, director of mental health and addictions for the northern zone of Nova Scotia Health, said the purpose of the meeting is to have conversations about harm reduction and substance abuse in the community and giving advice on how people can reach out for help.
There was also training on how to administer Naloxone as well as an opportunity to provide Naloxone kits that can be used to help bring someone back who has overdosed.
“We’re hoping to provide education, conversation and community connectiveness,” she said. “We want to raise awareness and promote services in the community. We want to continue the conversation. The more people who understand the problem will reduce stigma and judgment for those who are using substances. It’s easier for people to seek support when we reduce that stigma.”
A second meeting is planned for Friday, Dec. 15, at the Dr. Carson & Marion Murray Community Centre in Springhill from 1 to 3 p.m.