Meth-related visits number is growing rapidly lately. Along with some patients that willingly come to the hospital to seek help, there are some, which are brought in by their family members against their will or even by police, if officers think detainee requires medical help to calm him down or in life-threatening cases. Such patients express anger and sometimes act violently towards the doctors, nurses and other hospital staff.
As per the Manitoba Government and General Employees Union, hospital guards need more power to deal with meth-related violence in hospitals. Methamphetamine is a real problem in Winnipeg. As per Winnipeg Police, there is a spike in meth-related crime incidents, like property theft, residential break-ins, unreasonable anger towards each other (meth users) and other people around them, violent attacks, some ending up in lethal outcomes for victims, lately there were three deadly beatings in just three days in the city, one of the incidents is already connected to meth use, two other cases are still under investigation.
Unfortunately lately there are many more meth-related crimes and other incidents in Winnipeg. The unflattering statistics show 1200% increase in meth-related Emergency Room and hospital visits since 2013.
On Wednesday, September 26th Winnipeg Police Chief Danny Smyth spoke about the struggle with meth in the city at an information session. The session took place at the Gonzaga Middle School in North Point Douglas, there were about 75 people present. Some were there just to listen and get some information. Others were present because they have somebody in their family or among their friends battling a meth addiction or dealing with a stress after a meth-related incident of a psychological trauma.
Police representatives explained such behavior of those, who use methamphetamine, people on meth are no longer productive, so they have to find other ways to get money to fuel their addiction and get more drugs. People on meth turn to pity theft and other, more serious crimes. Bike theft, residential break-ins, garage theft is now a rising problem in the city. Just recently there were a number of bike theft, most of them were arrested later by Winnipeg Police and incidents linked to meth usage.
So a lot of meth junkies come to hospitals and unfortunately when treated, may express anger, agitation, and violent behavior, hurting themselves and in some cases medical staff and damaging hospital property.