Overdose-reversing kits being used more in Saskatoon area, says fire department

First responders in Saskatoon administered a life-saving overdose reversal drug about once a day in 2019.

Len Protz, battalion chief with the Saskatoon Fire Department, said naloxone — a drug that can be injected into the vein or muscle, or sprayed into the nose to counter the effects of an opioid overdose — is saving lives in the city.

“In 2019, we responded to 156 overdoses and of those we administered naloxone 30 times,” he said.

The amount of times the overdose-reversing kits were used in the Saskatoon area is on the rise; the fire department administered naloxone 16 times in 2017 and 22 times in 2018.

Medavie Health Services West, which covers Saskatoon and approximately a 45-kilometre radius around the city — including Warman, Martensville, Colonsay and Osler — administered naloxone a total of 297 times between January and November of last year.

Troy Davies, director of public affairs for Medavie Health Services, said the service sees an average of 35 to 50 overdose calls per week.

The Saskatoon Police Service posted on Facebook that they had administered naloxone 12 times last year.

“It is definitely more prevalent in the Pleasant Hill neighbourhood; however, it’s becoming more consistent throughout the city,” said Protz, adding it happens on a regular basis year-round.

“We’ve had a couple of incidents in the last few years where we’ve had a rash of overdoses, and then we don’t have any for a longer period of time as well.”

Naloxone kits are free and available to the public.

When the drug is administered, it will improve a person’s breathing after an overdose. It wears off in 20 to 90 minutes and the patient will still require care from medical staff.