Sask. government launches crisis operations centre in response to drug overdoses

Chris Edwards · CBC News

· Posted: Mar 12, 2025 7:48 PM EDT | Last Updated: 11 minutes ago

The Saskatchewan authorities is stepping successful to signifier a effect to a spike successful overdoses successful Saskatoon. 

The Saskatoon Fire Department reported responding to 67 overdoses and 1 suspicious decease from March 9 to March 11.

On Wednesday, the authorities activated the Provincial Emergency Operations Centre (PEOC) successful effect to the ongoing crisis. The province says the determination volition heighten co-ordination betwixt wellness organizations and trim gaps successful care.

The Saskatchewan Ministry of Health issued an overdose alert connected Wednesday, informing of unsafe batch of fentanyl that's suspected to person driven the question of overdoses.

Prairie Harm Reduction reported investigating the substance, describing it arsenic having a brownish reddish colour with unusual, delayed effect that causes sleepiness followed by unconsciousness.

The alert volition stay successful effect until March 17.

This alert follows a erstwhile one, which was issued connected March 1 after the Saskatoon Fire Department responded to nearly 50 overdoses successful the anterior week. 

Overall, the occurrence section has responded to much than 300 overdoses since Feb. 25. 

In effect to the latest overdose alert, Saskatoon Mayor Cynthia Block urged residents to debar illicit substances and beryllium alert of signs of overdose.

"We are facing a superior and urgent situation successful our assemblage close now," she said. "A dangerously lethal batch of drugs has made its mode onto our streets, and it is putting lives astatine hazard successful neighbourhoods crossed the city."

The advisory states that overdose hazard tin beryllium minimized by carrying a instrumentality location naloxone kit, which tin beryllium utilized to assistance counteract an overdose. With the batch successful question, it says that overdoses are requiring 4 to 5 doses of naloxone, on with further oxygen and paramedic assistance.

Free naloxone kits are disposable astatine wellness and assemblage organizations.