According to the Saskatoon Fire Department, to date this year they have responded to 538 overdose calls. Last year at this time, there were less than half that at 249. The Fire Department adds that an incident call may include multiple patients. One recent overdose incident involved five patients who required rescue breathing, CPR and Naloxone, so when you think of the 538 calls, there have actually been more overdoses than that.

In response to this increase, the Saskatchewan government is activating the Provincial Emergency Operations Centre. The Saskatchewan Public Safety Agency will partner with the City of Saskatoon and the Ministry of Health to activate the PEOC, which was first established in 2021 to centralize and lead the response to COVID-19.

Mayor Cynthia Block has issued a statement about the overdose crisis in the city. She says, “A dangerously lethal batch of drugs has made its way onto our streets, and it is putting lives at risk.” She urges all residents to stay vigilant, avoid illicit substances and be aware of the signs of overdose. If you or someone you know is struggling with addiction, reach out to local support services and if you suspect someone is in immediate danger, call 911.

Prairie Harm Reduction has issued a Drug Alert on social media, saying they continue to test drugs and the latest show 30 per cent fentanyl. These illicit drugs are usually around 15 per cent. PHR says Saskatoon is experiencing a surge in overdoses due to this toxic supply.

In other efforts to address Saskatoon’s toxic drug crisis, the Ministry of Health and the Saskatchewan Health Authority have provided more naloxone kits to organizations in the city, as resources were low following the intense spurt of overdoses in the end of February and beginning of March. In addition, free Take Home Naloxone Kits are available at more than 450 locations across the province.