Testing to detect tainted street drugs now available in Saskatoon and Regina
Street drug users in Saskatoon and Regina will now be able to test if drugs contain two potentially deadly substances.
On Tuesday the Government of Saskatchewan announced fentanyl and benzodiazepine (benzo) test strips are available in the province's two largest cities.
Of the 73 confirmed opioid-related deaths in 2021, 66 per cent involved fentanyl which is 50-100 times more toxic than other opioids, the province said in a news release.
Often drugs users don't know if there is fentanyl present in the drugs they are using.
"We have seen the devastating impact that fentanyl has had on so many Saskatchewan families and communities," mental health and addictions minister Everett Hindley said in the release.
The stips are available to clients at Newo Yotina Friendship Centre in Regina and at Prairie Harm Reduction in Saskatoon.
Prairie Harm Reduction executive director Jason Mercredi says the site started using the strips on Tuesday and clients "seem to be receptive."
"It's good because it's another tool to help us prevent overdose deaths," Mercredi told CTV News.
"We can provide better drug education to them and they're much more receptive when they know if there's fentanyl or benzo in their drugs."
Mercredi says the strips will help the community stay safer by having real time information as the site will be collecting data and tracking how many tests identify fentanyl and benzodiazepine.
"(It will) allow us to send out drug alerts a lot quicker and we're hopeful for the future because the province is funding this and hopefully they'll start funding our safe consumption site next year," Mercredi said.
Mercredi says the site has a couple hundred strips and will receive more as needed.
Staff at both locations have received training on the proper use of the strips, according to the province.
"Adding drug testing, with the support of the Saskatchewan Ministry of Health, will further enhance our ability to reduce harm in our community," said Newo Yotina Friendship Centre executive director Michael Parker.
The province emphasizes that the absence of the two substances does not necessarily mean the drugs are safe.
The test strips also do not reveal the amount of fentanyl or benzodiazepine that is present when there is a positive result.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
BREAKING Trudeau promises $1B in loans for child-care providers to expand care centres
The federal government is launching a new loan program to help child-care providers in Canada expand their spaces, and will be extending further student loan forgiveness and training options for early childhood educators, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced Thursday.
Spring allergy season has begun. Where is it worse in Canada?
The spring allergy season has started early in many parts of Canada, with high levels of pollen in some cities already. Experts weigh in on which areas have it worse so far this season.
Sunshine list: These were the Ontario public sector's highest earners in 2023
Ontario released its annual sunshine list Thursday afternoon, noting that the largest year-over-year increases were in hospitals, municipalities, and post-secondary sectors.
Several flight attendants from Pakistan have gone missing after landing in Canada
Multiple flight attendants from Pakistan International Airlines have abandoned their jobs and are believed to have sought asylum in Canada in the past year and a half, a spokesperson for the government-owned airline says.
N.B. man wins $64 million from Lotto 6/49
A New Brunswicker will go to bed Thursday night much richer than he was Wednesday after collecting on a winning lottery ticket he let sit on his bedroom dresser for nearly a year.
'Nonsense:' Doug Ford slams lawsuits filed by Ontario school boards against social media platforms
Premier Doug Ford says that lawsuits launched by four Ontario school boards against a trio of social media platforms are “nonsense” and risk becoming a distraction to the work that really matters.
Why some Christians are angry about Trump's 'God Bless the USA' Bible
Former U.S. President Donald Trump is officially selling a copy of the Bible themed to Lee Greenwood’s famous song, 'God Bless the USA.' But the concept of a Bible covered in the American flag has raised concern among religious circles.
Multiple bridges in Calgary shut down for police incident
Calgary police have shut down a number of bridges into and out of the downtown core as officers deal with a distraught individual.
King Charles calls for acts of friendship in first public remarks since Kate's cancer diagnosis
King Charles III gave public remarks for Maundy Thursday, addressing the importance of acts of friendship, following his and Catherine, Princess of Wales’ cancer diagnoses.