Letter Writing Campaign - PEI needs an Overdose Prevention Site!
Please support us in urging decision makers to take decisive action to ensure that an Overdose Prevention Site is implemented without further delay. The health and safety of our community depend on it.
You can do this by:
using this online platform to send emails to our policy makers,
writing and sending an email (see the template letter below! Email addresses are below the template letter),
and/or mailing in physical letters to The Honorable Dennis King (details below, including mailing addresses). You can also mail physical letters at our International Overdose Awareness Day events on August 29 in Summerside and August 30 in Charlottetown.
Read the press release and learn more about our events for International Overdose Awareness Day!
Template Letter
[Your Name]
[Email Address]
Date: [Insert Date]
The Honourable Dennis King, Premier of Prince Edward Island
Office of the Premier
5th Floor South, Shaw Building
95 Rochford Street
PO Box 2000
Charlottetown, PE C1A 7N8
Subject: Urgent Need for an Overdose Prevention Site in Prince Edward Island
Dear [Recipient],
I am writing to express my deep concern about the escalating drug overdose crisis in Prince Edward Island and to urge your immediate action in establishing an Overdose Prevention Site (OPS) in our province.
The drug overdose epidemic stands as one of the most severe public health crises our country has ever confronted. In 2023, over 8,000 lives were lost to drug overdoses, translating to an alarming average of 22 deaths daily. This crisis is primarily driven by an unregulated and increasingly toxic supply of synthetic drugs. The devastating impacts of this epidemic resonate across every community, and Prince Edward Island is no exception.
Recent data from the Chief Public Health Office reveals a troubling rise in accidental drug poisonings on the Island. In 2023, preliminary reports indicate that Island EMS responded to 137 suspected opioid-related overdoses, with Emergency Departments and the Chief Coroner’s Office documenting 48 accidental non-fatal opioid-related overdoses and at least 7 deaths. These numbers represent an increase from 2022 data, which documented an increase from 2021, underscoring a clear upward trend.
The absence of an Overdose Prevention Site does not prevent drug use. The absence of an OPS means that individuals at risk often lack immediate access to critical, life-saving interventions and community members without homes consume substances in public spaces and other high risk settings. This not only endangers lives but also exacerbates the already high costs associated with emergency response, long-term care, policing, and justice interventions.
In September 2022, the Chief Public Health Office released the What We Heard Report on engagement with individuals who have lived experience with substance use regarding an OPS. The report revealed that all 55 participants (100%) had used substances in public spaces over the past six months, with 87% expressing a willingness to use an OPS if available. This finding reinforces prior research findings suggesting that an OPS would not only save lives, but would also significantly reduce public substance use.
The politicisation of public health is unacceptable. It is imperative that the Government of Prince Edward Island follow through on its promises and prioritize the establishment of an OPS to save lives and mitigate the impact of this crisis. No more lives should be lost. The Government of Prince Edward Island must honor its previous commitments and expedite the establishment of an Overdose Prevention Site. Immediate decisive action is essential to support and protect our community members, reduce preventable deaths, and alleviate the broader impacts of this crisis.
I urge you to take action to ensure that an Overdose Prevention Site is implemented without further delay. The health and safety of our community depend on it. Please consider the urgent need for this facility and act swiftly to address this growing emergency.
Thank you for your attention to this critical matter. I look forward to your prompt response and the necessary actions to protect and support our fellow Islanders.
Sincerely,
[Your name]
Emails
Premier of PEI - Dennis King
Email: premier@gov.pe.ca
Minister of Health & Wellness - Mark Mark McLane
Email: mamclaneminister@gov.pe.ca
Mayor of Charlottetown - Philip Brown
Email: mayor@charlottetown.ca
Deputy Mayor of Charlottetown - Alanna Jankov
Email: ajankov@charlottetown.ca
Mailing Addresses
Premier - The Honorable Dennis King
Office of the Premier
Attn: The Honorable Dennis King
5th Floor South, Shaw Building
95 Rochford Street
PO Box 2000
Charlottetown, PE C1A 7N8
Minister of Health & Wellness - Mark Mark McLane
Attn: Minister Mark McLane
4th Floor North, Shaw Building
105 Rochford Street
Charlottetown, PE C1A 7N8
Mayor of Charlottetown - Philip Brown
Attn: Mayor Philip Brown
PO Box 98
Charlottetown, PE C1A 7K2
PO Box 98
199 Queen Street
Charlottetown PE C1A 7K2
Deputy Mayor of Charlottetown - Alanna Jankov
Attn: Deputy Mayor Alanna Jankov
PO Box 98
Charlottetown, PE C1A 7K2
PO Box 98
199 Queen Street
Charlottetown PE C1A 7K2
