Emergency Responders Handle Spike in St. Stephen Overdose Incidents

Multiple individuals required hospitalization following a series of overdose calls in St. Stephen between Oct. 18 and Oct. 20. Non-profit organization Neighbourhood Works confirmed its shelter, Lighthouse Lodge, responded to an increased number of cases over the past week, with staff and emergency personnel providing urgent care before the patients were treated and released.

Police Search for Illicit Drug Suppliers

In response to the sudden rise in medical emergencies, the RCMP announced an investigation into possible criminal activity connected to the incidents. Mounties are actively seeking information regarding individuals who might be distributing illicit substances in the region. Although overdose responses are primarily medical, authorities are evaluating potential criminal ties.

Local Organization Warns of Unpredictable Drug Supply

Neighbourhood Works emphasized in a community letter that the specific substances involved remain unconfirmed pending official findings. The non-profit noted that these occurrences highlight the ongoing hazards of an unpredictable drug supply affecting both large centers and smaller rural areas like St. Stephen. The RCMP reminded the public that consuming illegal drugs carries inherent risks due to unknown contents, urging anyone with relevant information to contact local police or New Brunswick RCMP at 1-888-506-7267.

Public Assistance Requested

The Southeast District RCMP is requesting help from the public to find 15-year-old Johnathen McLean, who has gone missing from Baie-Sainte-Anne, a community situated east of Miramichi.

Details of Disappearance

McLean was last spotted on Monday at approximately 8:30 p.m. close to the 5800 block of Route 117. Law enforcement received a missing person report regarding the youth on Tuesday.

Police Investigation Ongoing

In a news release issued Tuesday, Sgt. Genevieve Reid indicated that authorities have pursued multiple leads to locate the teenager, though he remains unfound. “Both the police and his family are concerned for his well-being,” Reid said in the release.

Traffic Incidents Spike Across Miramichi

Year-to-date motor-vehicle crashes in Miramichi have jumped to 450 as of Tuesday, up from 356 recorded by Oct. 13, 2025. Miramichi Police Force Chief Brian Cummings presented the updated figures to city council during a Tuesday update on the community safety action plan introduced last year.

Bridge Shutdown Strains Police Resources

Addressing the city council, Chief Cummings pointed to the ongoing Centennial Bridge closure as the primary driver behind the surge of 104 additional crashes and related traffic complaints. The chief noted that the shutdown has severely impacted travel times and local navigation.

“The bridge closure has caused us much grief when it comes to traffic and timelines for getting around the city,” Cummings stated.

Major Arteries Paralyzed by Single Crashes

According to Cummings, the majority of the recent traffic mishaps correlate directly to the bridge shutdown. He cautioned that a single incident on any primary route can create widespread gridlock across the city.

“The vast majority of those new accidents would be almost directly related to the bridge, and as we all know now, a single accident on a main artery in the city almost paralyzes us,” he said.

Highlighting the strain placed on emergency responders, Cummings recalled a fatal collision on Route 8 and Route 117 roughly a month prior that required extensive police presence and resources.

“If it’s a serious accident, like we had on Route 8 and 117 approximately a month ago, which ended up being a fatality, it ties up our resources for a very long time,” Cummings told council.