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home / 世界杯决赛2022

sask. government explores medication disposal strategy to prevent suicides

saskatchewan is exploring a provincial strategy to help people dispose of leftover medications, in the hopes of preventing suicides.

by zak vescera

dec 16 2021
read time 2 minute read
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warning: contains information about suicide that could be triggering for those with mental health issues
saskatchewan is exploring a provincial strategy to help people dispose of leftover medications, in the hopes of preventing suicides and accidental overdoses.
the ministry of health issued a draft tender this week expressing interest in a provincewide initiative, which would include locations across saskatchewan where people could toss out leftover drugs, and a concurrent public awareness campaign about safe storage and disposal.
the document says applicants would secure safe disposal locations at least 200 sites across the province by working with police, pharmacists, health service providers and potentially indigenous communities. they would also run a campaign emphasizing the risks of improper disposal, with a focus on the potential for such medications to be used as a means of suicide.
the draft document cites an anticipated budget of $400,000.

“suicide prevention is the main goal of this campaign, with the recognition that safe disposal also has the benefits of reducing harm to the environment, accidental and intentional poisonings, and drug diversion,” the document said.

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postmedia requested an interview with the ministry of health but received only a prepared, unattributed statement. it noted overdose is one of the most common suicide methods in canada and accounted for approximately nine per cent of such deaths in saskatchewan in 2020.
the latest report from the saskatchewan coroners service identified 197 deaths that year, but the report is incomplete because not all deaths have been investigated.
the government said a safe medication disposal strategy was part of pillars for life, a provincial suicide prevention plan it introduced last year. one of its five pillars is ‘means restriction;’ an early version of the plan mentioned an annual event for people to clean out their medicine cabinets as a possible action.
no one from the saskatchewan college of pharmacy professionals, the professional regulator, was available for an interview.
pharmacy association of saskatchewan ceo michael fougere said he had not been briefed on the document but would support any effort to make medication disposal more accessible. he said some pharmacists offer such services on a community-by-community basis, but he sees value in expanding it.
“any strategy that brings us forward in a way that protects residents, we’re fully supportive of that.”
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anyone needs help to talk about suicide can call healthline 811 or the kids help phone at 1-800-668-6868. they can also text connect to 686868. if there is an emergency, call 911. more resources can be found on the government’s website. 
correction: a previous version of this story said fougere was the president of the pas. in fact, he is the ceo. 

zvescera@postmedia.com
twitter.com/zakvescera

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