Fentanyl is killing fathers, mothers, children, siblings, friends, neighbours and colleagues, and it is ruining the lives of many more people. That, from the Regina Police Service as it relays the city’s statistics for the fall.

In November, 231 calls were transferred to EMS for drug overdoses, both fatal and non-fatal. Officers responded to 28 of those calls and 18 of them were fatal. In October, there were 19 people died from a drug overdose. From January through November, the Regina Police Service has received and transferred 1,641 calls to EMS for drug overdoses. Police responded to 299 calls and 137 involved people dying of an overdose.

In a news release, the Regina Police Service says patrol officers carry naloxone, and are sometimes able to revive the person who is overdosing, but too often they are not called in time. Because of the Good Samaritan Drug Overdose Act, there is some legal protection for people seek help while experiencing or witnessing an overdose.

The Police Service reminds everyone that the statistics are people, not numbers and suggests it will take more than arresting drug traffickers to deal with the issue of substance abuse and addiction. The advice is to educate yourself, family members and friends, and use tip lines like Crime Stoppers to report crime, including drug trafficking. If you know someone is is battling a substance use disorder, don’t give up. Don’t stop advocating for them. Learn the signs of an overdose and call 911 in an emergency.