Over 100 people have died of a drug overdose in N.L. since 2023 — and this axe-throwing bar wants to help

More than 100 people have died of an overdose in Newfoundland and Labrador since 2023, according to the latest data from the province’s chief medical examiner — a sharp rise from previous years that’s prompting public health workers to find new avenues reducing harm for drug users.

So far this year there have been 31 drug toxicity deaths in the province, according to the newest numbers from the office of the chief medical examiner.

In 2023, 74 people died — a steep rise from the 37 total deaths in 2022 and 36 deaths in 2021.

The rise in overdose deaths is prompting advocates for safer drug use to reach out to the community for help.

The Safe Works Access Program in St. John’s distributes supplies needed for using drugs, like clean needle and naloxone kits, and educates people on how to spot and reverse an opioid overdose.

Emily Wadden, SWAP’s program manager, points to an increasingly toxic drug supply as the reason drugs are killing more people. She said potent drugs such as fentanyl are easier to transport over to the island, as they’re smaller in size and much stronger than traditional opiates.

A rise in overdoses in recent months isn’t a surprise. But she’s grateful for how the community has responded to them.

“There’s a lot of public participation around obtaining a naloxone kit because unfortunately … everybody is at risk of dying if you’re using any drug off the street, or that’s not regulated,” Wadden said.

Harm reduction on the rise

Naloxone, a life-saving drug used to prevent opioid overdoses, are provided for free by SWAP and Newfoundland and Labrador Health Services.

Jack Axes is one local business that has Naloxone on site. The axe-throwing business has also agreed to host the health authority’s harm reduction team on day a week, allowing its outreach van to set up shop in its parking lot.

Jack Axes owner Adrian Beaton was aware of the issues facing the neighbourhood, and said when harm reduction workers asked if they could park their van outside the bar, it was a no-brainer.

“We’re just on the doorstep of downtown,” said Beaton. “I have to imagine that it’s only going to be a good thing for the community and hopefully save lives.” 

Seretha Wheaton, a registered nurse who leads the harm reduction team, says the primary goal of the outreach van is to reach marginalized and vulnerable people who can’t access traditional health care. 

Drug toxicity is a serious problem in the community right now, said Wheaton.

“We’re seeing an increase in numbers … people need to be aware of what’s going on in the city, and it’s not just specific to one population,” she said. “Anybody could overdose.”

In the harm reduction van, community members can pick up naloxone kits, safe drug paraphernalia, toiletries, basic needs like hats, gloves and underwear, blood collection supplies, wound care supplies and specimen collection supplies. 

The van travels to different neighbourhoods throughout the community to provide primary health-care services, including wound care, blood collection and first aid — with a harm reduction approach. 

It’s a “low barrier, non-judgmental, safe space for individuals to come, and that aligns with our mandate,” Wheaton said.

“We don’t discriminate,” she said. “That’s the beauty of this. We just accept anything that comes our way.”

Community stepping up

Community participation and public awareness is crucial for harm reduction, says Wheaton.

“It takes a whole collaborative approach. We’re just one small team in a huge city, in the province of Newfoundland,” said Wheaton.

“We want teams all throughout the province, but with community engagement, it just gives that [a] bit more traction and lets the community know what we’re doing.”

Wheaton said the van will be located in different areas around downtown St. John’s throughout the week, including Jack Axes every Thursday from 1:30 to 3:30 p.m. NT.

“I want everyone to be able to see everything through a harm reduction lens, and just realize that … we’re not above any of that,” she said.

“it could be any one of us one of these days. And it could be your loved one, your child, your mother, your father — and it could happen at any point.”

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