As of Thursday, Regina and Saskatoon are now home to the province’s first Overdose Outreach Teams.
These teams will work to connect people who have recently experienced an overdose with support programs and services.
The goal of piloting these teams is to work with and help people reduce their risk of overdose and other drug-related harms.
“Overdose Outreach Teams are part of a hot-spotting approach which is a strategy to help direct resources to people who are at the highest risk in specific geographic regions,” says Mental Health and Addictions Minister Everett Hindley.
“Establishing these teams is part of our commitment to helping people who are living with addictions by improving access to addictions and harm reduction services.”
The Saskatchewan Health Authority is leading the pilot project with key partners including the Saskatoon Fire Department and Regina Fire Protective Services.
“Regina Fire and Protective Services is proud to partner with the SHA on the Overdose Outreach Team,” says Regina Fire and Protective Services Fire Chief Layne Jackson.
“This program aligns with our goals to bring added value to our residents and work towards preventative and proactive approaches to community safety.”
The Overdose Outreach Teams are comprised of a mental health and addictions counselor from the SHA and a primary care paramedic from Fire Services. They will provide short-term counseling while connecting people to other agencies for long-term services.
People who have experienced an overdose can be referred to the Overdose Outreach Team by anyone such as a friend, family member, Police Officer, or Paramedic as long as the individual gives consent to be referred.
Anyone can submit a referral through the Saskatchewan website.
The pilot will run until May 15 in Regina and Saskatoon which is when their success rate will be assessed. It’ll then be decided whether or not the teams will continue and possibly expand into other communities.
The province’s Drug Task Force is providing $650,000 to fund hot-spotting initiatives, which includes $250,000 for the Overdose Outreach Teams pilot project.
This is a part of the $470 million that has been invested into mental health and addiction services by the provincial government, including an increase of $8 million for targeted mental health and addictions initiatives providing treatment and reducing harms associated with substance use.