the result has been a wave of deaths, leaving no community untouched. in 2020, the coroner’s office reported fatal overdoses in communities as small and varied as vibank, humboldt, shellbrook and uranium city.
“it’s no longer isolated to a regina-saskatoon problem,” havervold said.
“one thing i’m noticing is the shifting mindset of the population a bit around stigma reduction, and that overdose isn’t really just for a certain segment of the population that they might not relate themselves to, but can happen instantly.”
mercredi said that’s a reflection of how many people have died.
“it’s not just the individuals who have passed. it’s their friends and family. for every person that has passed, there is a person that is mourning their loss.”
government’s response
the provincial government has responded by expanding access to naloxone, which can temporarily reverse opioid overdoses, and recently declared it would fund testing strips so users can check drugs for fentanyl and benzodiazepines.
the province also resurrected the drug task force, an inter-ministerial committee including top bureaucrats and police chiefs with a renewed focus on preventing fatalities. havervold said the group is in the midst of consulting stakeholders on new approaches.