Saskatchewan more than doubled overdose death record in 2020: Coroners service report

2020 was the deadliest year on record for drug overdoses in Saskatchewan.

According to the latest report from the Saskatchewan Coroners Service, a total of 379 drug toxicity deaths were recorded over the calendar year.

That included 207 suspected deaths, along with 172 confirmed.

Of the 172 confirmed, the report states that 161 were accidental. Ten were determined to be suicide and one cause was undetermined.

Also in its latest report, the Saskatchewan Coroners Service updated its past yearly totals.

That means Saskatchewan’s previous deadliest calendar year changed from 2018 to 2019.

There were 177 deaths linked to overdose in 2019, with 171 in 2018.

The totals from 2020 more than double 2019’s record.

Methamphetamine toxicity was part of the cause of death in 65 of the 172 confirmed deaths last year.

In terms of where the deaths have been happening, 42 different Saskatchewan communities were affected by the confirmed deaths.

Regina led the way with 82; Saskatoon currently sits at 33.

Nine Indigenous communities were linked to drug overdose deaths, including two on both the Gordon First Nation and Pasqua First Nation.

In its report, the Saskatchewan Coroners Service said statistics may change once the cases are concluded.