Question Period (1 May 2024)

From Hansard (1 May 2024)

To view this section on video, click here and start play at 2:17:30 PM.

 Overdose Deaths and Treatment for Addictions

Mr. Love: — Mr. Speaker, 67 of Saskatchewan’s communities lost community members to overdose crisis this year. Those communities know first-hand that more needs to be done to stop the rise in overdose deaths. Access to treatment is needed, but people can’t attend treatment if they’re no longer alive. Even SUMA [Saskatchewan Urban Municipalities Association] understands this, Mr. Speaker. In fact they made a statement about it earlier today: “SUMA recognizes that there is still much to be done for those who are not yet ready to seek treatment and to address the underlying causes of mental health and addictions.”

What does the minister say to those community leaders at SUMA who want evidence-based support for people when and where they need it?

Hon. Mr. T. McLeod: — Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, the message that our government is sending across the province is that no illicit drugs are safe. There is no safe use of an illicit drug, and we will not implement any policies that suggest otherwise, Mr. Speaker.

What our government is doing is warning people about the dangers of illicit drugs. We have the provincial drug alert system. We have overdose outreach teams, Mr. Speaker. We have the free naloxone kit program, Mr. Speaker, that has reversed over 10,000 overdoses in this province since it was introduced, Mr. Speaker. Our government’s approach is to focus on treatment and recovery.

We know that the opposition members and their cousins in British Columbia want to implement policies that would actually help individuals stay in a life of addiction. We want to help them overcome their addiction and find a path to treatment and recovery.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

---

Back to 2023/2024 Session