Sask. ambulance service sees 500% increase in Narcan use to reverse overdoses
Medavie Health Services West says it’s seen a 500 per cent increase in the administration of Narcan (naloxone), a drug used to counter the effects of opioids in drug overdoses, since 2019.
It was administered 132 times in 2019 and 609 times in 2021.
“This isn't something that was a huge surprise to us when we were running the numbers so we fully expected it,” said director of public affairs Troy Davies.
Those numbers don’t include administrations by police, fire, or bystanders.
“It's a sign of the times, unfortunately not only in Saskatoon but major cities across Canada,” said Davies.
“It's a trend that we're seeing, and I don't think it's a coincidence that it aligns with COVID starting two years ago, and our numbers rocketing from that from mental illness to depression to what we're seeing.”
Davies says there are also more potent drugs on the streets in and around Saskatoon.
“We have seen patients take up to eight doses of Narcan just to get them back, and that's something. Three years ago we never would have seen that," he said.
The dramatic increase in Narcan administrations is also no surprise to Kayla Demong, executive director of Prairie Harm Reduction.
“We are absolutely seeing more fentanyl coming through, and more people knowingly using fentanyl,” she said.
Demong says 577 people accessed the safe injection site at Prairie Harm Reduction in 2021.
“Regina is definitely showing more of an increase of fentanyl, more rapidly than we are, but it's something that's been steadily increasing here as well,” she said.
According to the Saskatchewan Coroners Service, toxicity deaths in the province have increased every year since 2016.
- 2016: 83
- 2017: 89
- 2018: 129
- 2019: 136
- 2020: 267
- 2021: 278
- 2022: 18
Medavie says the Ministry of Health and the Saskatchewan Health Authority have partnered with paramedics to distribute more than 29,000 take-home Narcan kits while stocking ambulances with kits to hand out to bystanders when responding to overdose calls.
“We're now carrying Narcan kits in our ambulances, and that's a first for any service in Canada to hand out kits to residents when we arrive on scene," Davies said.
Davies says if there was one “hotspot” where overdoses were happening they would be able to devote resources to that specific area, but the calls are coming from neighbourhoods across the city.
“We also serve the cities of Martensville and Warman, rural communities, so it's not just one localized spot,” he said.
“That's the scary thing about it, is it doesn't matter where you live in the community, what you do for a living, we're seeing it from 18-year-olds to 65-year-olds.”
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Half of Canadians have negative opinion of latest Liberal budget: poll
A new poll suggests the Liberals have not won over voters with their latest budget, though there is broad support for their plan to build millions of homes.
opinion Why you should protect your investments by naming a trusted contact person
Appointing a trusted person to help with financial obligations can give you peace of mind. In his personal finance column for CTVNews.ca, Christopher Liew outlines the key benefits of naming a confidant to take over your financial responsibilities, if the need ever arises.
'One of the single most terrifying things ever': Canadian couple among tourists on sinking sailing boat tour abroad
A Toronto couple are speaking out about their “extremely dangerous” experience on board a sinking tour boat in the Dominican Republic last week.
'My stomach dropped': Winnipeg man speaks out after being criminally harassed following single online date
A Winnipeg man said a single date gone wrong led to years of criminal harassment, false arrests, stress and depression.
Ottawa injects another $36M into vaccine injury compensation fund
The federal government has added $36.4 million to a program designed to support people who have been seriously injured or killed by vaccines since the end of 2020.
Photographer alleges he was forced to watch Megan Thee Stallion have sex and was unfairly fired
A photographer who worked for Megan Thee Stallion said in a lawsuit filed Tuesday that he was forced to watch her have sex, was unfairly fired soon after and was abused as her employee.
An Ontario senior called Geek Squad for help with his printer. Instead, he got scammed out of $25,000
An Ontario senior’s attempt to get technical help online led him into a spoofing scam where he lost $25,000. Now, he’s sharing his story to warn others.
Accused of burglary at stepmother's home, U.S. senator says she wanted her father's ashes: charges
A Minnesota state senator and former broadcast meteorologist told police that she broke into her stepmother's home because her stepmother refused to give her items of sentimental value from her late father, including his ashes, according to burglary charges filed Tuesday.
Twins from Toronto were Canada's top two female finishers at this year's Boston Marathon
When identical twin sisters Kim and Michelle Krezonoski were invited to compete against some of the world’s most elite female runners at last week’s Boston Marathon, they were in disbelief.