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The Saskatchewan Ministry of Health (SHA) has issued an urgent alert following a surge in overdoses in Saskatoon, saying the city’s fire department responded to 90 calls between July 17 and July 20.
The unknown substance that is circulating has meant first responders are having to administer multiple doses of naloxone and advanced life-saving measures, SHA said.
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The authority says they do not know what the substance looks like or what it is being sold as but it may contain fentanyl or other unknown opioids.
The last overdose alert for the city was in April and came shortly after the closure of Saskatoon’s only supervised consumption site.
Prairie Harm Reduction announced its closure on April 9 after suddenly firing its executive director in March and issuing an urgent call for help over financial difficulties.
Following that announcement, the organization saw provincial funding in the form of two contracts cut and its operations suspended by Health Canada.
If you or someone you know is struggling with addiction you can call the National Overdose Response Service at 1-888-688-6677. This toll-free, 24-hour hotline aims to prevent deadly overdoses by connecting people who are alone and using drugs with peer volunteers who can call for help if needed.
Doug Wegren, Saskatoon’s fire chief, told Saskatoon City Council in May that overose numbers in the city for 2026 were worse than the same period in 2025, when the provincial emergency operations centre was activated to help address the overdose crisis in the city.
Canada’s Good Samaritan Drug Overdose Act offers some legal protection and applies to anyone seeking emergency support during an overdose, including any person experiencing an overdose.
The Act protects the person who seeks help, whether they stay or leave from the overdose scene before help arrives. The Act also protects anyone else who is at the scene when help arrives.
Symptoms of an overdose may include but are not limited to:
- slow or no breathing
- gurgling
- gasping or snoring
- clammy and cool skin
- blue lips or nails
- difficulty waking up or staying awake
Naloxone is used to treat opioid overdoses.
The Saskatchewan government provides free Naloxone kits and training on how to administer it to anyone at risk of an opioid overdose, as well as to anyone who might witness an overdose. The training also covers overdose prevention, recognition and response.
A list of places where the free kits are available can be found online. Emergency departments across the province also carry the kits, and they can be purchased at some pharmacies as well.
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