Olivero hoping for big turnout at rally

By Olivia Bradbury / Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

The Guardians of Recovery Foundation has called for a province-wide rally September 11 to demand better public safety and more accessible care for people suffering from addiction and mental health issues.
The ‘Safe and Sound Rally’ is set for 2:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. in front of Confederation Building in St. John’s and at municipal government locations in other communities across the province.
“We have a province of concerned citizens that are worried about the crime, and it’s our theory that it’s the drug crisis at the root of all of that,” said Tina Olivero, who founded Guardians of Recovery after losing her son Ben to drugs two years ago. “The drugs are exacerbating desperation, desperation is exacerbating crime, and, of course, the drugs are fueling the whole addiction epidemic.”
Olivero said the foundation will be making several demands at the rally. These include more drug dogs for police, on demand detox and rehab care, and the creation of long-term sober living homes.
Olivero said the foundation wants drug dogs at every port of entry in the province, as well as at schools, drug den shelters, and anywhere else the transaction of drugs can take place.
“Right now, the low-barrier shelters are a mecca for drug use and drug dealing,” said Olivero, alleging that drugs such as fentanyl and protonitazene, which are lethal, can be found in the shelters.
One of the foundation’s key policy calls is for the creation of sober living homes, which according to Olivero, offer a better environment for supporting recovery from addiction. Last year, Premier Andrew Furey told Olivero he was going to commit to the creation of sober homes across the province. However, he has since stepped down.
“It’s all in disarray now,” said Olivero. “We don’t know what’s happening. They say that there are funds coming, but it’s a drop in the bucket compared to what we need.”
Olivero said sober living homes are seeing success on the mainland.
“Overdoses are declining dramatically in Alberta,” she maintained. “We’re following their model. They have 27 sober living homes.”
Alberta’s sober living homes are run by the Oxford House Foundation, and Guardians of Recovery has done a lot of research on its methods. Earl Thiessen, executive director of Oxford House, is now a member on Guardians board of directors. Guardians of Recovery submitted a proposal to government last year.
Olivero said the foundation has made great progress when it comes to awareness, but she is disappointed there are no new structures in place. “The All-Party Committee, which is supposed to come together from a non-partisan position, they’re all advocating for harm reduction,” she said.
But so-called “harm reduction” involves what Olivero calls low-barrier shelters and providing people with addictive substances or the means to use them. “I just don’t believe that people get well that way,” said Olivero. “And the people who’ve gone through recovery, they don’t believe that, either.”
Olivero contends the promotion of “harm reduction” practices is being driven by pharmaceutical and other corporate interests.
A number of companies have bid on the foundation-supported sober home project, submitting proposals and solutions, but Olivero said it doesn’t seem to be on the government’s list of priorities. According to her, some 95 per cent of the funding for drug-related issues goes to low-barrier shelters and harm reduction programs, which are reactive measures.
“It sounds good (that) we’re going to give someone a place to sleep tonight and give them something to eat,” said Olivero. “It’s a very humane thing to do. But it’s actually causing a lot more problems because we’re congregating all these people with addictions in the same place and it becomes a drug mecca.”
Olivero said there should be an elaborate recovery plan attached to every low-barrier shelter.
Three adolescents in the St. John’s area were recently lost to protonitazene, she noted.
“It’s not in the news, but I take calls from two, three parents per day,” Olivero said. “I have a very inside look on what’s exactly going on, and it’s horrific. It’s absolutely horrific. The media doesn’t represent accurately what’s happening. The Province, if they were being responsible, they would be reporting daily overdose tallies. And they don’t do that, but they should.”
The September 11 rally date is not long before the next provincial election, a strategic choice on the foundation’s part.
“We’ll invite a member of each political party to come and speak specifically to what they’re willing to do, in writing, to address the problem should they be elected,” Olivero said.
She is hoping people will help the cause by organizing friends and neighbours to attend the rally and share videos on social media.
“A lot of people don’t speak up because they’re afraid of drug dealers,” Olivero said. “But you know what? There’s a handful of drug dealers and there’s 500,000 people in this province. We are far stronger together and with our voices heard.”
Olivero said the rally is an opportunity for citizens to stand together and demand that those in leadership positions listen to their requests.
“The government works for us and fulfills the wishes of the people, not the other way around,” said Olivero.