A harm-reduction vending machine in downtown Lloydminster has remained empty prompting advocates to speak out.
Tyler Lorenz, executive director of Residents in Recovery, says it's an essential resource in a province where he believes harm reduction support is waning. The machine is on the chopping block after an election promise by MLA Colleen Young. The recently re-elected Sask Party aims to remove it from our community "day one."
“Saskatchewan doesn’t do harm reduction anymore,” he said. “They might as well get rid of it because the Saskatchewan government is doing zero harm reduction other than needle exchanges.”
According to Lorenz, the machine is vital for those who rely on harm-reduction supplies to stay safe. The machine provides clean needles, naloxone, and other supplies aimed at preventing disease transmission and overdoses. Meanwhile, he stated that Residents in Recovery distributes more than 500 naloxone kits monthly, filling a gap left by provincial health programs.
“We’ve always distributed more than Prairie North did,” he added.
Lorenz argues the absence of more extensive harm reduction measures could have severe consequences. He expressed frustration with what he sees as misinformation about harm reduction in Saskatchewan, especially on social media. He notes the general public fails to understand the necessity.
“The repercussions are going to be, higher HIV rates, higher syphilis rates, higher hep C rates… overdose deaths,” he explained. "That will lead to higher treatment costs to our healthcare system down the road."
In response, the Saskatchewan Ministry of Health asserts its focus on treatment over harm reduction. A spokesperson emphasized the province never adopted the federal government’s safe supply program, which provides medical alternatives to street drugs.
“No illicit drugs are safe, and there is no safe use of illicit drugs,” the Ministry stated.
Instead, Saskatchewan has opted to expand treatment and rehabilitation, announcing 215 new treatment spaces this year as part of a plan to add 500 spaces province-wide.
Of the 215 new treatment spaces, 44 of them will be local.
- 15 inpatient treatment spaces and two withdrawal management spaces at Thorpe Recovery Centre near Lloydminster;
- 15 withdrawal management spaces at Onion Lake;
- 14 inpatient addictions treatment spaces through Poundmaker's Lodge in North Battleford;
These treatment spaces include options for inpatient care, withdrawal management, and post-treatment support across Saskatchewan.
Lorenz doesn't agree there is much for post-treatment support in the province. He points to his own sober living support program, which has a waiting list of over 80 people. It helps people transition into everyday life after addiction.
"It's four to eight months for someone coming out of Thorpe to end up in our support system," Lorenz said. Additionally, he argues it's 4-8 months for them to fall right back into their previous habits.
"Unfortunately, many do," he said.
Meanwhile, the Ministry of Health explained how they believe the new approach will help.
"As part of the transition to a recovery-oriented system of care, earlier this year, changes were made to how the health care system responds to illicit drug use issues," stated the ministry. "The provision of pipes for smoking illicit drugs was discontinued, as was the practice of providing materials with instructions on how to use illicit drugs."
They want the messaging from the health care system to be that you can recover through treatment.
“Our focus is on getting more people the treatment and rehabilitation that they need to overcome addictions,” the Ministry added.
This approach, officials argue, aligns with the transition to a recovery-oriented system, aiming to help individuals overcome addiction without relying on harm reduction tools like safer smoking kits, which were recently discontinued.
While Lorenz acknowledges the importance of treatment, he insists that harm reduction plays a critical role in addiction support.
“The government wants to focus on treatment and rehabilitation, which is great,” he said. “But part of the rehabilitation process... is ensuring they’re still alive.”
Without accessible harm reduction resources, Lorenz warns, Saskatchewan may see rising healthcare costs and greater social consequences as communicable diseases spread unchecked.
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