The CEO of the Saskatchewan Health Authority says in response to the escalation of overdoses and overdose deaths in Saskatchewan they are focusing on re-instituting programs that might have been slowed down because of COVID-19. Scott Livingstone also says even as they go into budget discussions for next year, addictions treatment will remain a high priority and its not on the back burner.

Monday, August 31st is International Overdose Day. Saskatchewan does have needle exchange programs. Prairie Harm Reduction did not receive funding in the June budget from the province for a safe consumption site. But as of October 1st, Saskatoon will have the first safe consumption site in Saskatchewan. An online store was launched to help fund the scaled back version which will be open fewer hours than initially proposed.

Saskatchewan Chief Medical Health Officers says prevention of substance use, especially younger adults, is essential. And for those with a substance use disorder it is important to have access to services the addict is ready for which can include services that help stop the use of substances.

But he says for those not ready to seek help to quit then there needs to be harm reduction like needle exchanges and access to take-home naloxone kits. Dr. Shahab points out alcohol and cannabis are legal but make up 80 to 90% of substance use incidents.

Friday night, the Saskatoon Police checkstop took six vehicles off the road for up to a week each. The Traffic Unit says it was for alcohol and cannabis with drivers licenses suspended for 3,21, or 60 days. Two suspended drivers were ticketed as well as one minor, for possessing cannabis.