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Saskatchewan faces rising overdose calls, calls for more frontline support grow
🇨🇦 Canada /Health & Science

Saskatchewan faces rising overdose calls, calls for more frontline support grow

From Global News · () English

Translated from English, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Sources not specified Ongoing story
  • Saskatchewan is seeing a rise in opioid overdose calls, with emergency services responding to 1,707 calls in 2025, a significant increase from the previous year.
  • Despite a reported drop in overdose deaths, an NDP MLA is demanding emergency funding for frontline workers, citing extreme strain and exhaustion.
  • The provincial government acknowledges the issue and highlights existing addiction support programs and treatment spaces, while committing to finding solutions with partners.

Calls are intensifying in Saskatchewan for increased emergency support for frontline workers battling a surge in opioid overdoses. Emergency medical services in the province responded to 1,707 opioid overdose calls in 2025, a substantial rise from the year prior, according to data from the Public Health Agency of Canada.

We know emergency responders are being called out day and night. We know firefighters, paramedics, nurses and health-care workers are being pushed to their limits. And we know people are overdosing on our streets at a rate we have never seen before.

— Leroy LaliberteSaskatchewan NDP MLA Leroy Laliberte speaking to reporters about the strain on frontline workers.

Saskatchewan NDP MLA Leroy Laliberte has urged Premier Scott Moe's government to provide emergency funding, stating that responders like firefighters, paramedics, nurses, and healthcare workers are overwhelmed. "We know people are overdosing on our streets at a rate we have never seen before," Laliberte told reporters, emphasizing that existing services are struggling to meet the demand.

I think the province needs to say that this is a crisis that we’re battling with now to validate community members.

— Leroy LaliberteSaskatchewan NDP MLA Leroy Laliberte on the need for the province to acknowledge the severity of the overdose crisis.

The provincial government acknowledged the seriousness of the situation, stating it is "concerned about the number of overdoses in Saskatoon, and across the province." The Ministry of Health indicated it is continuously monitoring the issue and committed to finding solutions with partners. The statement also pointed to the addition of 370 new treatment spaces and various new or expanded programs, including the Rapid Access to Addictions Medicine Clinic and the Overdose Outreach Team in Saskatoon.

The Government of Saskatchewan is concerned about the number of overdoses in Saskatoon, and across the province, and the impact they are having on individuals, families and communities. The Ministry of Health is continually monitoring the overdose situation in Saskatoon, and throughout the province, and remains committed to finding solutions to address this complex issue with our partners.

— Government of SaskatchewanA statement from the provincial government responding to calls for increased support.

Jay Protz, president of IAFF Saskatoon Firefighters Local 80, echoed concerns about the rising number of overdose calls impacting firefighters' mental health. He described the situation as a "fraying" safety net for the community, with responders being pushed to their limits.

We are the safety net for our community, but that net is fraying.

— Jay ProtzJay Protz, president of IAFF Saskatoon Firefighters Local 80, describing the impact of overdose calls on firefighters.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by Global News in English. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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