Sask. might see another jump in overdose deaths this year: report

Saskatchewan is on track for another year-over-year increase in drug toxicity deaths, a new report suggests.

As of Sept. 30 this year, there have been 336 deaths linked to overdoses in the province — 116 confirmed drug toxicity deaths and 220 suspected fatal overdoses — according to a report from the Saskatchewan Coroners Service.

With three months left in the year, those 336 deaths are already more than what the province saw two years ago.

"I'm not surprised [and] I'm deeply saddened," said Meagan Jasper, who is recovering from addiction and living in Moose Jaw.

Since she became clean five years ago, Jasper has been helping others overcome their addictions.

"We have a lot of barriers in Saskatchewan, for any service that you're trying to access, when you don't have a phone or you don't have access to [the] internet."

The Coroners Service reported 409 confirmed or suspected drug toxicity deaths for all of 2021 — more than double what the province saw two years earlier.

Jasper said increased isolation during the COVID-19 pandemic deepened the drug crisis in Saskatchewan.

People struggling with addictions are still feeling the aftermath of the pandemic, with some waiting a long time before they can access support services, she said.

"Isolation is always going to be our worst enemy," said Jasper. "It seems like if we had 20 people using [drugs] before the pandemic, we now have 50."

The rise of fentanyl has added another layer of challenges. It's an opioid that is 50 to 100 times more toxic than others, such as heroin, oxycodone or morphine, according to the province.

At least 265 people died accidentally from fentanyl, and 205 from acetyl-fentanyl, in 2021, according to the Coroners Service.

This year, there have already been 64 confirmed accidental fentanyl deaths in the province, 50 per cent more than two years ago.

That's why Jasper wants Saskatchewan to support safe consumption sites.