Drug overdose alert issued for Saskatoon after 90 calls in 3 days

Saskatoon has issued a drug overdose alert following a significant surge in incidents, with firefighters responding to 90 overdose calls over a three-day period. The Saskatchewan Ministry of Health issued the advisory from Friday to Monday, citing an "escalation in cases and severity of intervention required."

Local harm reduction groups have also reported an increase in calls, contributing to the urgency of the alert. Firefighters' union representatives have expressed concerns that the ongoing overdose crisis is stretching resources thin within the city's emergency services.

The advisory warns the public of a "high risk of overdose from unknown substances circulating in the Saskatoon area." While the specific appearance or street name of the substance was not provided, the ministry indicated it may contain fentanyl or other potent opioids. Reversing the effects of an overdose may necessitate multiple doses of naloxone, along with CPR and ventilation, according to the notice.

The overdose alert was scheduled to expire on Tuesday. The spike in calls highlights the ongoing challenges faced by public health officials in addressing the opioid crisis in the region.