April has seen a sharp increase in the number of drug overdoses in Saskatoon—prompting the Saskatchewan Ministry of Health to issue an alert.

During a 12-day period, the Saskatoon Fire Department has responded to more than 150 drug-overdose calls. Some of those calls involved multiple individuals and required the administration of naloxone.

There is no information on the substance or substances causing the overdoses. The provincial alert will remain in effect for one week.

Prairie Harm Reduction, Saskatoon’s safe injection site, ceased operations April 9th due to a dire financial shortfall. PHR provided a drop-in centre, support services, education services, family support, and had two youth homes. The supervised consumption site was previously closed on March 26th.