Saskatoon drug overdoses in Public Libraries

Last month Global News reported that "The drug crisis in Saskatoon is becoming too much to handle, as several community organizations have shut down due to the overwhelming number of overdoses."

"On Friday, the city’s only safe consumption site, Prairie Harm Reduction, announced they would be temporarily closing due to the trauma from responding to all the overdoses."

"Most recently, Saskatoon Public Library (SPL) announced they will temporarily close two libraries due to drug safety concerns."

Last month CBC reported that "Library staff responded to at least 48 overdoses or drug poisonings so far this year — almost double the number from the same period in 2024, according to a statement from the public library."

They were talking about this on the radio today. It's not just a problem in Saskatoon. They had a head librarian on from Kitchner Ontario talking about it. She said the public library strives to provide a safe place inclusive of everyone. That means non drug users don't feel safe. She said the library does provide a dry space and using drugs or alcohol is against the rules. Yet many do because they're having 4 overdoses a week.

So what have we learned? Harm Reduction without the other three critical pillars, is simply harm promotion. We're killing people and we are making public spaces unsafe.

The problem has become so bad in Saskatoon that they had to temporarily close their not so safe consumption site. That's significant. Meaning it's a huge problem. That's an election issue. What we are doing isn't working.

The Portugal model succeeded because they made treatment mandatory. The political extremists fail to mention that part. 

"Drugs are, however, still confiscated and possession may result in administrative penalties such as fines or community service."