Red Pheasant implement mandatory home visits after overdoses

By Jaryn Vecchio

Leadership for Red Pheasant First Nation is  putting its foot down when it comes to drug activity in the community.

This comes after seven members overdosed over a 24-hour span, although RCMP say none were fatal.

A state of local emergency has since been issued with Red Pheasant’s chief and council now deciding to conduct mandatory ‘healthy home visits.’

paNOW reached out to the First Nation on what exactly these visits will look like but have yet to receive a response.

Leadership is also setting up a security team that will work alongside RCMP and help vacate properties that are involved with drug-related activities.

A 10 p.m. curfew is also being implemented for anyone under the age of 16.

Other communities have gone public recently with their own struggle with drugs.  Back in June members of the Muskoday First Nation walked to Regina to bring attention to the issue.

Meanwhile, Battlefords RCMP are increasing patrols around Red Pheasant.

“What we need from the community is any information related to the presence of illicit substances,” said Inspector Jesse Gilbert, officer in charge of the Battlefords detachment.

“This can be scary to contact police to report illegal activity, but with key information, we can specifically target where and how the drugs are entering the community.”

Over the weekend, officers seized suspected drugs resembling opaque, rock-like candy. While it hasn’t been confirmed, it’s believed it was ‘flakka’ which in some cases can be a combination of heroin and meth or heroin and cocaine.

The RCMP is encouraging the Red Pheasant Cree Nation community to be on the lookout for these suspected drugs and report them to the Battlefords RCMP at 306-446-1720 as well as Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477.

To mark International Overdose Awareness Day on Aug. 31, the Ministry of Health launched a new ad campaign in hopes of reducing the stigma surrounding overdoses.