Fredericton Police are reporting a nearly 130 per cent increase in drug overdoses this year compared to the same period last year. Staff Sgt. Rick Mooney stated the force has responded to 61 overdoses year-to-date, including nine calls in a single 48-hour period last week.
This surge follows a trend of rising incidents and fatalities: 162 overdoses with nine deaths in 2025, 97 overdoses with eight deaths in 2024, and 54 overdoses with three deaths in 2023. Mooney cautioned users about the potency of substances, noting "there’s no guarantee that what they think they are taking is indeed what they are using." He highlighted increased risk with stronger opioid mixtures, potentially involving carfentanil, a substance estimated to be 50 to 100 times more potent than fentanyl.
Similar increases are being observed in other Maritime communities. In Saint John, Avenue B Harm Reduction reported 14 overdoses in their building over the last three months, up from one or two instances in the previous year. Executive Director Laura MacNeill cited substance combinations and stigma, particularly for unhoused individuals, as major challenges.
Nova Scotia has recorded 35 overdose deaths this year, prompting officials to urge the public to carry Naloxone, a medication that can temporarily reverse opioid overdoses. Harm reduction consultant Sara Wuite encouraged carrying Naloxone kits, emphasizing the potential to help others in need.