Sask. Health Authority fills training gap for non-profits at front line of meth epidemic

Staff at the Central Urban Metis Federation Inc. (CUMFI) offices on Avenue M North see people high on methamphetamines every day. The organization keeps its doors open so people can walk in off the street to warm up, do laundry or grab a snack.

In the last two years it's been increasingly common for people on crystal meth to come in acting strangely. Sometimes they talk to themselves or strip off their clothing. They might be aggressive or frightened by hallucinations that staff cannot see.

The Saskatchewan Health Authority is looking into whether it can schedule more training sessions in the new year to meet the demand from non-profit organizations for guidance on handling crystal meth-related situations safely. This comes as front-line agencies — SCAA members among them — report a significant increase in encounters with individuals in crisis due to methamphetamine use.

SCAA's Crystal Meth Working Group has been coordinating responses among member agencies, sharing information about best practices and helping organizations connect to available training resources. The alliance continues to advocate for adequate funding to support the training needs of front-line staff.

Find the full article at: The StarPhoenix