The Saskatoon Board of Police Commissioners received brief updates from those involved in the Safe Community Action Alliance and the Community Safety Well-being Partners Group during last week’s meeting.
Both are working with community leaders and groups to address the city’s crystal meth crisis. Both groups said they will provide detailed reports in the new year.
Shan Landry, Facilitator of the Community Safety and Well-being Partners Group says their report will include concrete suggestions about making change but she says quote “None of them are a magic bullet, none of them are in and of themselves something that be the change that will get things going for the use of crystal meth.”
The Community Safety Well-being Partners Group was formed earlier this year and includes members from the Saskatchewan Health Authority, the Saskatoon Police Service and those in the education sector.
Police Chief Troy Cooper said in 2019 alone, the service has seen a seven per cent increase in the number of mental health calls, many of which are due to crystal meth use.
The Well-being Partners Group is committed to establishing a drug court in Saskatoon, creating 24 hour safe spaces for youth, establishing a more co-ordinated system of outreach services and creating treatment options for fentanyl and crystal meth.