The seizure of drugs and guns appears to be go hand-in-hand according to multiple police reports in 2020. (Prince Albert Police Service)

By Nigel Maxwell

Mental health of a community

Prince Albert’s drug problem: why COVID could be making it worse

Dec 11, 2020 | 5:00 PM

As 2020 draws to a close, the use of drugs in Prince Albert continues to climb.

For the period ending Nov. 30, incidents related to controlled drugs and substances are up over 13 per cent compared to the same period in 2019. The statistics have been laid out in the November Crime Statistics report from the Prince Albert Police Service.

There have been 127 incidents related to drug possession and 102 related to trafficking. Police Chief Jon Bergen told paNOW it’s hard to say why the numbers are higher this year, but credits the work of officers on the ground.

“I can tell you the work they have been doing has been fair exceptional and that’s coming out of the integrated crime reduction team, who is working side by our side with our street enforcement team,” he said.

Over $300,000 worth of drugs and cash were seized as part of a drug bust in January. (File photo/ paNOW Staff)

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Back in October, police warned the public about a supply of Fentanyl arriving in the city- a small supply of a pebble-sized substance, resembling Nerds candy, was seized by officers.

The illicit drug has been responsible for 53 deaths in the province this year. Bergen was asked by paNOW to provide an update on the investigation.

“There were some investigations that we believe will lead to some arrests and charges,” he said, but did not have information on the specifics.

The frontline response

Cam Friesen is the Interim Manager of Integrated Outreach and Outpatient Services at Addictions Services and explained to paNOW, staff have not relayed to him any concerns related to more clientele.

“I don’t know necessarily if there’s like a dramatic number of people using, but they seem to be using more,’ he said.

Friesen explained that during COVID-19 and the subsequent lockdowns and restrictions at various businesses, clients have had more time to consume. And while methamphetamine is still on the increase in the city, alcohol remains the standard fare.

“People are secluding themselves and so their intake of both alcohol and crystal meth have increased. So typically where a person may only drink for three times in a week if they are not working, now they are drinking five days a week,” he said.

Methamphetamine use in Prince Albert has put added pressure on policing, health care services. (File photo/ paNOW Staff)

According to the Saskatchewan Coroner’s Service, there have been 42 confirmed deaths in 2020 connected to methamphetamine use. Friesen said one of the biggest challenges when dealing with clients high on crystal meth, is the impact the drug has on their psychological welfare (auditory and visual hallucinations), and sometimes they access services in a state of what Friesen referred to as a ‘drug-induced psychosis.”

“And part of that is paranoia, and there’s a lot of fear from the client and it’s no fault of their own, it is a symptom of this particular drug,” Friesen said. “So we really have to work hard and develop that trust factor.”

Friesen said addiction services will not turn patients away and added one of the biggest misconceptions during the pandemic has been that services have been scaled back or stopped. Friesen said they are still offering the same level of service as they did before the pandemic, but it just may look different and come in the form of a referral.

“So we don’t say we are not going to talk to you, we are going to find you the best service for where you are at,” he said.

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nigel.maxwell@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @nigelmaxwell