Saskatchewan Sees Another Record Year for Overdose Deaths in 2021 | The Canadian News

A record number of people died of overdoses in Saskatchewan in 2021.

464 people died in Saskatchewan from confirmed or suspected drug overdoses last year, according to the Saskatchewan Forensic Service.

The previous record was set in 2020 when 327 people died. 179 people died in 2019.

The CEO of Saskatoon’s only monitored consumer site said the new death toll did not surprise him.

“This is the new norm,” said Jason Mercredi. “We (need) to start acting like one.”

Mercredi said the deadliest drugs, like fentanyl, are to blame.

But he also says it’s the provincial government’s fault for not funding harm reduction programs.

Statistics from the coroner’s office show that 111 people died of overdoses in Regina and only 61 in Saskatoon.

Mercredi thinks it shows that harm reduction is working, because Prairie Harm Reduction has been open in Saskatoon longer than its Regina counterpart, Newo Yotina Friendship Center, which began offering services last May.

PHR opened in October 2020. It is also open longer.

Mercredi told Global News that the organization’s year-end statistics also show that harm reduction programs are effective.

The report shows that 3,518 consumptions occurred on the site in 2021. It indicates that only four overdoses occurred and that none were fatal.

“I’d like to see what we can do if we have the right funds,” he said.

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PHR has applied to the provincial government for funding specifically for harm reduction (PHR receives government funding for other services) for three years in a row, but has been denied each time.

PHR turned to the community, which means selling things like donuts and baked goods paid for by another paramedic, as well as extended hours.

Mercredi said more than 50 people a day use the facility in some way and that staff are overwhelmed.

“Staff burnout has been high … staff burnout has been incredibly high,” he said. “So it’s great that the community supported and funded us.”

Looking ahead, Mercredi said the overdose figures are likely to be even higher this year, unless the province begins funding more operations.

In a statement, Addictions and Mental Health Minister Everett Hindley said the record number of overdoses was concerning.

He also said the province is taking steps to expand the Take Home Naloxone program, make drug control strips available, open new treatment beds and provide an addiction recovery program in the north.

The statement said the government recognizes that addiction problems are not just a health or surveillance problem, but one that involves “housing, health and mental health.”

“Our government is committed to continuing to seek more opportunities to increase the number of addiction treatment and detox spaces in the province, with the goal of adding another 150 spaces in the next three years and continuing our expansion of harm reduction services. “, He said. read

Mercredi praised the government for providing drug test kits and said the government’s measures are necessary, but not sufficient.

“It seems that the only people who disagree because they realize that this is the way things should be done, and this is the future, is the provincial government.”