Toxic drug deaths 'not a category where we want to hit number one': SOYA founder

Newly released data that shows Sault Ste. Marie was worst in the province for opioid toxicity deaths in the first three months of 2024 comes as little surprise to Connie Raynor-Elliott, the founder of the street-level organization SOYA.

On Tuesday, the Office of the Chief Coroner (OCC) released its latest data showing Sault Ste. Marie had the worst opioid toxicity death rate in the province for the the first quarter of 2024. The same data showed Algoma Public Health had the second-worst death rate among health units in Ontario during the same period.

The OCC said in its report that 13 people in the Sault were confirmed to have died during that time period.

Raynor-Elliott said she heard about many toxic drug poisonings that occurred during those months and she is not shocked that Sault Ste. Marie is leading the province's death rate. 

"I am so frustrated because I knew those numbers were going to be high," said Raynor-Elliott. "We hit number one. This is not a category where we want to hit number one."

In response to questions about the OCC data, Mayor Matthew Shoemaker told SooToday the situation reflects what he has heard from service providers and front-line workers across the community.

"The further you get from Queen's Park, the worse the numbers become. This is not a coincidence but a result of a lack of support for communities outside the Greater Toronto Area," said Shoemaker. 

Shoemaker said he plans on addressing the situation at the upcoming Association of Municipalities of Ontario conference in mid-August.

Raynor-Elliott said a lack of testing kits being made to street-level agencies like SOYA is contributing to the number of deaths locally. Those test strip kits have been harder and harder for the organization to source in recent months.

Many of the people who receive toxic drug poisoning aren't even trying to consume fentanyl, said Raynor-Elliott. The test strips allow for non-opiate drugs like Benzodiazepine and Xylazine to be evaluated to determine if fentanyl is present.

"I feel like I am talking to a brick wall. No one is hearing our voices," said Raynor-Elliott on her frustration about her organization's fruitless search for test kits.

SOYA has been organizing the Overdose Awareness Day event since 2019. In those five years both city mayors — Matthew Shoemaker and Christian Provenzano — have accepted an invitation to attend, but Raynor-Elliot said local members from the provincial and federal government have not.

"I would really like to see the city officials come out, all of them," said Raynor-Elliott. "I would like to see Ross Romano — who's never showed up. I'd like to see Terry Sheehan — who's never showed up."

Responding to a request by SooToday, Sheehan said he will be in the city this year during the event and plans to attend. 

In an email, Romano denies that he has ever received an invitation to the annual public event that is held on Aug. 31 every year.

"I was concerned by the comment that my office had declined to attend past SOYA events, having no recollection of any previous invitations," said Romano. "Unfortunately, I have a previous commitment that I am unable to re-arrange.”

Romano said the opioid crisis is a foremost concern for himself and his office.

"I am committed to increasing the availability of mental health and addictions services in our community," said Romano. "For every ask that's been brought forward to our government, we've delivered. Funding of over $27M this past year for new facilities and to enhance the capacity of the services like you offered at the Northway Treatment Centre, through the Sault Area Hospital the Algoma Live-In Treatment Facility, the Algoma Youth Wellness Hub and the Community Resource Centre."

Raynor-Elliott said it's frustrating to see those same politicians showing up to hand out cupcakes during Canada Day events, while ignoring the grieving families who are hurting in their community.

"They could do the same thing here," said Raynor-Elliott. "We'll even provide the Overdose Awareness Day cookies."

In recent years, the Overdose Awareness Day event in the Sault has consisted of two parts — a sombre remembrance ceremony at the Memorial Wall outside of the Ronald A. Irwin Civic Centre, followed by guest speakers, support and fellowship at the Roberta Bondar Pavilion. The pavilion is filled with representatives and information from the local agencies that are working to combat the opioid crisis in Sault Ste. Marie and free food and refreshments will be served.

The theme of this year's event, scheduled for Aug. 31, is 'together we can.' It begins at 5 p.m. at the Memorial Wall, followed by the community barbecue at the nearby Roberta Bondar Pavilion at 5:30.

Everyone is welcome to attend the event, not only those who are directly affected by the loss of loved ones.

"It's a family event and it's safe," said Raynor-Elliott.

As part of the event, SOYA will be adding new stars on the Memorial Wall, with each one representing a person lost to substance use disorder. People interested in having the name of their loved ones added to the wall can email the organization at [email protected] for mor information. The deadline for applications is Aug. 13.

SOYA will be holding a charity barbecue on Friday, Aug. 2 at Soo Mill on Gt. Northern Road from 11 a.m. until 2 p.m.