“Without effective processes to deliver opioid addiction treatment services, people with opioid use disorder are at an increased risk of overdose or death.”
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The provincial auditor has found that the Saskatchewan Health Authority (SHA) is not able to accurately say whether its opioid treatment service is working.
That’s according to the latest report from Tara Clemett, who wrote that the SHA “does not analyze and report sufficient information to determine whether it is effectively delivering opioid addiction treatment services in the province.”
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“Without effective processes to deliver opioid addiction treatment services, people with opioid use disorder are at an increased risk of overdose or death,” adds the report.
The SHA runs opioid agonist therapy (OAT) and rapid access to addictions medicine (RAAM) treatment programs in the province.
Speaking on Tuesday, Clemett said one key issue is the lack of communication between clinics administering the treatment, especially when it comes to wait times.
“Audit testing found average wait of 1.75 days in Regina and 4.75 days in Saskatoon to first appointment with an OAT program prescriber; no wait time analysis taking place,” reads the report.
Best practices state patients should wait no longer than three days for treatment.
The report also found that Lloydminster and Estevan had higher-than-average drug toxicity deaths but did not have OAT treatment programs in place.
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Saskatchewan’s coroner tracks drug toxicity deaths, which peaked in 2023 with 457 confirmed and suspected deaths. In 2024 there were 346, according to the latest figures from the coroner.
NDP MLA Meara Conway said Tuesday she felt the government response to the opioid and addictions crisis in Saskatchewan has been “ideologically driven.”
“They have not taken an evidence-based approach,” said Conway. “I’m concerned that we’ll continue to see these numbers increase. We’ll continue to see the drug crisis get worse because we have a government that has continuously politicized this crisis.”
The auditor made eight recommendations to the SHA following a 12-month performance audit, which ended in December 2024:
- Provide clear and easily accessible information to the public about opioid addiction treatment services available in the province.
- Analyze the supply and demand for opioid addiction treatment services across the province to support timely treatment and effective use of resources.
- Implement standardized approaches (e.g., work standards, central IT system) for its opioid addiction treatment services.
- Offer OAT medication to clients with opioid use disorder during social detox services to decrease risks of relapse, illness, or death.
- Consistently assess opioid withdrawal symptoms before prescribing OAT medication to clients receiving outpatient opioid addiction treatment services.
- Provide timely outpatient opioid addiction treatment services (initial and follow-up) to clients with opioid use disorder.
- Consistently complete discharge/transfer plans for clients receiving inpatient opioid addiction treatment services.
- Consistently track, analyze and report key performance information to measure the effectiveness of opioid addiction treatment services.
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In an emailed response to the auditor’s report, the SHA said it is “taking action to respond to the recommendations contained within the Auditor’s report and has developed implementation plans to align with the Government of Saskatchewan’s Action Plan for Mental Health and Addiction Services over the next three years.”
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