REGINA - A new Provincial Drug Alert System was officially launched in Saskatchewan Thursday aimed at getting alerts about toxic drugs out to those at risk.
The announcement was made Thursday in Regina with officials in attendance including Minister of Mental Health and Addictions Tim McLeod, Regina City Mayor Sandra Masters and Regina Fire Chief Layne Jackson.
According to the province's news release, under this system drug alerts will go to at-risk people by text message, email, and through the Alertable app which can be downloaded.
The drug alerts are issued by the Ministry of Health based on information provided from partners Saskatchewan Coroners Service, the Regina and Saskatoon fire services, and from drug checking sites in those cities. Alerts are issued when partners report situations such as more than expected numbers of individuals seen by paramedics or in the hospital with an overdose; multiple severe outcomes such as ICU admissions or, deaths; multiple overdoses in the same area or location, or reports of use of a common substance; overdoses that are difficult to reverse with naloxone; and concerning substances in circulation that are causing harm or death, or the potential to cause harm or death.
The alerts will go out to anyone who has subscribed, and will also be available to those points of contact for people who may not have access to a computer or mobile device, so they can get the message out to those individuals.
The signup information is found at saskatchewan.ca/drug-alerts or text JOIN to 1-833-35-B-SAFE (352-7233). A test alert was scheduled to go out on Jan. 11, the first day of the service.
“This is another great tool that we have to help educate the public about the dangers of illicit drug use,” said Minister McLeod to reporters. “We know with the drugs circulating, they’re toxic, they’re lethal. This is another way we can really get the message out to the community from a reliable source that these dangers exist, and warn the public about the risks associated with the use of these drugs.”
“We know that more toxic substances, deadly substances are getting into the drug supply,” said Mayor Masters. “So really to have that collaboration across ministries, and the First Responders is critical to trying to get that word out, and then you’re tied into the outreach team as well… We are pleased with the collaboration. I’m really interested to see what else they can come up with, post analysis with what some of the data might show so again you get get more proactive in limiting the toxic deaths that are happening.”
“This is an important initiative and it’s important for harm reduction and prevention. We’re thinking it could be a big game changer in helping to potentially save lives,” said Fire Chief Jackson.
“It’s also a tool, it provides us a forum in the emergency services to provide real-time information on what we’re seeing for hazardous or dangerous circumstances or situations that are going on on scene. We’re very pleased to be a part of it.”
The province states in a news release the new alert system is an initiative under the Saskatchewan Drug Task Force, a multi-agency collaboration that includes the Regina and Saskatoon police services, the RCMP, the Saskatchewan Health Authority, the Ministries of Health, Social Services, and Corrections, Policing, and Public Safety, and with Chief Mark Arcand with Saskatoon Tribal Council.
