Sask. drug-related deaths declining in 2024 but reasons unclear, coroners service says
Report shows 334 deaths so far this year, down 24 per cent compared to 2023
Like many provinces, Saskatchewan has a serious drug overdose issue. However, recent numbers suggest things are improving.
The province has recorded fewer drug-related deaths compared with last year, according to the Saskatchewan Coroners Service.
Its statistics indicate that 334 people died of confirmed or suspected drug deaths in the first 11 months of the year, down 24 per cent from 2023. The majority of those cases are linked to fentanyl or related opioids.
Regina suffered the most confirmed death with 69 recorded, while Saskatoon recorded 53.
The report does not include a reason as to why there are fewer deaths and the coroner's service said they would not be able to speculate on it.
"I would suspect a good reason the numbers gone down is because it's the community that is most affected that is really kind of begun helping themselves — looking out for one another and using the buddy system and trying to consume as safely as they can," said Jason Knudsen, the outreach program manager with the Regina Street Team.
Meagan Jasper, a former addict who now advocates for safe-drug use, says that she does not agree that the numbers mean drug use is going away in the province.
"That number shocks me because I've been to a funeral — I've had a few deaths this week, last week," Jasper said. "Every time I look on Facebook, there's a rest in peace for somebody and it's always an overdose.
"These aren't drug addicts. These are mommies, daddies, brothers, sisters."
Jasper says she wishes drug use got the same level of awareness as drinking does in the province. She says the stigma around drug use plays a role in the number of annual deaths.
"When you go to a bar and you're drinking, are you going to get in your car and drive home or is the bartender going to call you a cab? That's harm reduction," Jasper said.
More drug-related deaths reported in men
In 2023, there were 7,162 accidental drug poisoning deaths recorded in the country. Out of that number, Saskatchewan has the highest age-standardized mortality rates for accidental drug poisoning behind British Columbia and Alberta.
At the national level, nearly three in four deaths (73%) were among males.
Advocates working at Prairie Harm Reduction say (PHR) despite the decrease, they would like to see more safe use sites.
"I think there should be more safe consumption sites," said Miranda Deck, PHR's engagement manager. "If we were able to be open seven days a week, I believe that would help quite a bit."
Deck says her team is working on a program for social workers, emergency crews and teachers that offers "education about harm reduction, about how it sets out to have people access other services like treatment — things like that they can navigate to."
PHR currently offers services from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. on weekdays. Deck says she hopes to see the service available 24 hours a day.
Even with the drop in drug-related deaths, the current statistics show that one person is dying from an overdose every day in Saskatchewan.
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With files from Campbell Stevenson