Last year, 20 Peterborough residents died of suspected overdoses. Deputy police chief Tim Farquharson said the city is on track to double that number this year.
“From January to April 1, we believe we’re at 19 overdose deaths, which is staggering,” Farquharson said.
“We have a lucrative drug market here. And they know that. The dealers know that they can make a lot of money here in Peterborough.”
The frustration was evident on the deputy’s face as he talked about the issue outside the Simcoe Street courthouse on Tuesday afternoon.
It’s not a new issue for police. The service has been battling opioids since the early 2000s when OxyContin emerged on city streets. The spike in opioid addiction prompted police to increase the size of its drug unit four-fold, and double the size of its intelligence unit.
“I call it a hamster on a treadmill,” Farquharson said. “We’re triaging everything, trying to get everything done.”
Police are no longer battling prescription Oxies. Instead, they’re dealing with something that Farquharson said is far more deadly.
“Now it’s fentanyl. Fentanyl is in all of our street drugs,” he said.
Farquharson was quick to state that police enforcement is a small part of the puzzle. He put greater stock in harm reduction, education and youth involvement.
About a month ago, Peterborough police lent their voice to a group of harm reduction organizations calling for a safe injection site in Peterborough.
That plan is still in the works. But according to PARN’s executive director Kim Dolan, they’re still trying to find a location.
Calls for the site to go downtown — where PARN hopes it will be located — have been met with some opposition, she said.
Dolan said those opposed aren’t looking at the same research that PARN, the police and the health unit are looking at.
“The research is very clear, and says that in communities where a safe injection site is established, the streets are cleaner, the community feels safe, and everyone benefits,” she said.
Funding for the site is still needed. Dolan said they’re working on the grant application process.
“We’ve been working hard, a number of people in the community, we’ve all been working hard. We know we’ve got tremendous support, and so we’re hoping that miracles will happen. And that we’ll save lives.”
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