City police see 85 ODS in first part of 2020

In the first three months of 2020, Regina Police Service has received more reports of drug overdoses in the city than they received in all of 2019. Since Jan. 1 of this year, three people have died from overdoses, and three other deaths are under investigation.

Of the 85 overdoses, police responded to 51 and have administered Narcan 18 times. The drug is used to treat someone suffering from an opioid overdose.

Of the 82 overdoses reported to police in all of 2019, 21 were fatal, according to Les Parker, spokesperson for the Regina Police Service (RPS).

Shiny Varghese, executive director with AIDS Programs South Saskatchewan (APSS), said her organization has seen an influx of people seeking Naloxone kits and training.

“We’ve had so many people phoning to be trained, especially if people have friends who have overdosed,” said Varghese. “It’s a growing problem in the city and we are trying very hard to educate people.”

The provincial government provides take-home Naloxone kits for people at risk of overdosing, or for people with a friend or family member who may be at risk.

The kits can be found at Saskatchewan Health Authority (SHA) locations or community organizations like APSS and Street Culture Project.

Varghese said the demand for the kits has been so high that APSS has run out.

“We’ve gone through all that we have,” said Varghese. “We cannot keep up with the demand.”

Training is still offered to anyone that seeks it, but Varghese said anyone looking for a kit will have to come back later or find one from another location.

RPS is continuing to investigate the high number of drug overdoses happening in the city. On Wednesday, the RPS issued a release updating the public on the number of overdoses.

Last month, the RPS attributed the spike to a “bad batch” of drugs — suspected to contain fentanyl — circulating in the city. Parker said police “had a quiet period over the past week,” but the recent fatal overdoses shattered that calm.

“We’re in a different environment now,” he said.

The city police service is urging the public to be aware of the danger posed by street drugs, specifically fentanyl.

“Anyone who is an active user of illicit fentanyl or fentanyl analogs is in danger. Even if people are not making good choices for themselves, others around them should be aware of the higher-than-usual potential for drug overdose and have a safety plan,” said the RPS in a press release.

The RPS said calling 911 in the event of an overdose is crucial, and referenced the Good Samaritan Drug Overdose Act, which protects anyone who is experiencing or is present when someone is suffering from an overdose from facing drug possession charges.

Varghese said people using drugs also need to consider harm reduction strategies like not using alone, especially when buying drugs from a new source.

“It’s a growing concern for the city,” she said. “It’s kind of erupted in the last few years.”