Saskatchewan provincial government responds to drug crisis in Saskatoon [Video]

The Provincial Emergency Operations Centre (PEOC) is being activated to enhance the response to the toxic drug crisis in Saskatoon.

A drug alert issued on Wednesday by the Saskatchewan Ministry of Health said, “The Saskatoon Fire Department continues to report high overdose rates …responding to 67 overdoses and one suspicious death in 72 hours.”

Prairie Harm Reduction has tested a batch of the drugs – described as a brownish red substance – that came back with dangerous levels of fentanyl.

The alert said this is causing multiple overdoses.

The fentanyl in this batch of drugs is reported to be causing unusual, delayed effects.

The effects are reported to cause sleepiness, then cause a person to stop breathing.

The alert states that four to five doses of naloxone were required to revive patients, adding oxygen and paramedic response have also been needed.

Prairie Harm reduction reports it has responded to 11 overdoses in the same period as Saskatoon Fire.

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