Saskatchewan’s battle against its opioid crisis has taken a critical hit, with a scathing new report from the provincial auditor revealing significant shortcomings in the province’s response.

The report, released June 3rd, highlights a concerning lack of data surrounding wait times for opioid addiction treatment across the province. The Saskatchewan Health Authority (SHA), according to the auditor, lacks the necessary tracking mechanisms to effectively assess the performance of its treatment programs. Specifically, the report points out that the SHA doesn’t analyze wait times at its clinics, nor does it adequately track the supply and demand for these vital services.

This damning assessment comes in the wake of a provincial emergency response declared on March 12th. This emergency declaration followed over 300 reported overdoses in Saskatoon alone, highlighting the severity of the “toxic drug crisis” gripping the city.

The auditor’s call for improved data collection and analysis is a crucial step towards understanding the scope of the problem and developing more effective strategies to combat this devastating crisis. Without accurate data, the province risks perpetuating a system that is unable to meet the urgent needs of those struggling with addiction.