Since mid-April, a security guard has been in place at the entrance to the EPSM (Public Mental health Establishment) in Saint-Avé and a barrier has also been installed. Met on site on April 24, the director of the establishment, Thomas Roux, explained this new system “because we have a concern about drug trafficking. We had been alerted by doctors, patients, their families and it was at the request of professionals that we took this measure. » At the end of 2023, the CGT alerted management to this problem of insecurity. “She was responsive and we can be pleased about that,” underlines Catherine Cléro, general secretary of the CGT at EPSM. “It was the police who suggested we do this experiment. The idea is to say: “we are watching here”. We have gendarmerie patrols in plain clothes, sometimes with dogs trained to detect narcotics,” adds the director who was able to observe that “the deal has been diluted a little since this implementation”. This problem of toxic trafficking within the EPSM is, however, not new.
Worse when it comes out
Vincent
was hospitalized for two and a half months in 2023 and confirms that it is possible to obtain narcotics within the public establishment, “from other patients but also from people from outside. » Between taking medication, consuming narcotics but also alcohol which he bought when he left the establishment and hid in his “futal” on his return, the thirty-year-old says “he left the treatment worse than upon his arrival. It was no use since I consumed as much there as before being hospitalized. » Enough to worry his mother who visited him several times a week. “The first week, I found it high but I told myself that it was normal with the drug treatment. » No improvement in the days that followed and understanding that his son continued to drink. She then alerted the healthcare staff, urging them to carry out more checks and regular tests. “I was told that the patients are adults and that the staff could not be behind everyone. I don’t blame the staff because there is a lack of resources but, for me, we can speak of failure to assist anyone in danger. »
Not enough supervised activities
This lack of human resources, Patricia , nurse at EPSM, also points the finger at this. “There are not enough therapeutic activities, due to lack of staff. If we don’t take care of people, they drug themselves with alcohol, drugs, THC (cannabis Editor’s note). » This was the case for Vincent who found a little corner in the EPSM park to consume. “We are offered discussion groups but no supervised sporting or creative activities. Small walks are organized from time to time but otherwise the time seems long. » During Covid, this toxic trafficking had decreased but has since resumed. And this has an impact on the safety of hospital workers and on the health of patients who overcompensate with toxic substances. “Some drug treatments are already heavy and this mixture with toxic substances can be extremely dangerous,” explains Catherine Cléro who thinks that the presence of the security guard and the installation of a barrier at the entrance already have the merit of being a deterrent. .
