Fatal overdoses linked to stimulants on the rise in Saskatchewan – CBC

Deaths per capita in province in 2021 skyrocketed past Ontario, B.C.

Aug 05, 2022

The number people who died because of a stimulant-related overdose in Saskatchewan during 2021 was nearly three times that reported for 2018, according to a Public Health Agency of Canada report.

Saskatchewan’s per capita rate of overdoses last year linked to stimulants, like crystal meth or cocaine, skyrocketed past all other provinces that submitted data.

That doesn’t surprise Dr. Larissa Kiesman, a family physician and the medical director at the Saskatoon Community Clinic in Westside.

“The community on the front lines has been well aware of the increasing crystal methamphetamine crisis,” she said.

Kiesman said year over year, the clinic has consistently documented 700-800 patients who screen positive for crystal meth. She said this means the overall numbers in the community are clearly much higher.

Read more: https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/saskatoon/sask-stimulant-death-numbers-2021-rise-1.6541533