This week, I have been working on a story that gets behind some of the numbers of overdoses in Nanaimo. Last year saw a drop in the number of fatalities from unregulated drugs in Nanaimo and a corresponding drop in medical calls by first responders and emergency room hospital visits. - ThreadSky

About ThreadSky

micksweetman.bsky.social • 30 days ago

This week, I have been working on a story that gets behind some of the numbers of overdoses in Nanaimo. Last year saw a drop in the number of fatalities from unregulated drugs in Nanaimo and a corresponding drop in medical calls by first responders and emergency room hospital visits.

Comments

micksweetman.bsky.social•30 days ago

While that story is not quite ready to share, it is important to remember that while there has been fewer and less serious overdoses in 2024 compared to the record high in 2023, a total of 94 people in Nanaimo died last year and they all left behind people who care about them and mourn them.

micksweetman.bsky.social•30 days ago

Deaths from an unregulated and toxic illegal drug supply have impacted so many people in our country in the past nine years that it really is like living through the Second World War as well as a global pandemic at the same time.

micksweetman.bsky.social•30 days ago

Except in this war, the casualties don’t have large public memorials erected for them and trees aren’t tied with purple ribbons. We don’t talk about the generational losses we have suffered and have become numb to the regular release of the number of dead and sight of the walking wounded.

micksweetman.bsky.social•30 days ago

As a reporter I share the grief and sorrow that is experienced by so many and seek to put that loss in a broader context so we can better understand what is happening.

micksweetman.bsky.social•30 days ago

Sometimes that takes a bit more time than just reporting the numbers and moving on to the next thing in a news cycle, and that is why we at The Discourse are committed to an approach to slow journalism as one of our key principles. I will be back next week with that story.

micksweetman.bsky.social•30 days ago

If you have anything you would like to share with me about your experience with the overdose crisis, please get in touch with me at [email protected].

Posting Rules

Be respectful to others
No spam or self-promotion
Stay on topic
Follow Bluesky's terms of service

Comments

Posting Rules

Reply