Oliver Town councillor Dave Mattes believes the drug overdose crisis should be a key issue in the federal election.
He recently reported to council that he attended the drive-through breakfast at the Osoyoos Indian Band office, an event to support the fight to end overdose deaths.
Mattes said he was given a naloxone kit and learned how to use it to save overdose victims.
“As we approach the federal election, this should be a huge issue for all politicians. It’s a medical problem and it is solvable, and they need to take action on it.”
Mattes said everyone will be touched in some way by an overdose death.
He praised band councillor Robbie McGinnis for all her work on the crisis.
Mattes said she told him a story about her grandfather (a medicine man) who believed that it isn’t our role to intervene in such matters. But Mattes noted the issue touched her enough times that she changed her way of thinking and realized that it is our job to help and make life last longer for people struggling with addiction.
