Overdose Outreach Teams
1. About Overdose Outreach Teams
Overdose Outreach Teams (OOT) in Regina and Saskatoon connect with people who have recently experienced an overdose to help them access programs and services. The teams were launched December 1, 2022, to help individuals reduce their risk of overdose and other drug-related harms.
The Saskatchewan Health Authority (SHA) is leading the teams, in partnership with Regina Fire & Protective Services and Saskatoon Fire Department.
Overdose Outreach Teams are comprised of a mental health and addictions counsellor from the SHA and a primary care paramedic from fire services. The teams connect with individuals after they have experienced an overdose by providing short-term counselling and connect them with other agencies for longer-term support.
Overdose Outreach Teams Piloted in Regina and Saskatoon – News release (December 1, 2022)
2. What Overdose Outreach Teams Do
Overdose Outreach Teams:
- Reach out to individuals who have recently experienced an overdose.
- Support and help connect individuals to follow-up care and services.
- Provide harm reduction education.
- Conduct risk assessments and assist with safety planning.
- Provide short-term counselling while connecting individuals to other agencies/organizations for longer-term needs.
- Help individuals who experience an overdose start on a path of recovery and treatment planning.
3. Contact an Overdose Outreach Team
Anyone can contact an OOT to request services, including people who have experienced an overdose, family members, police, firefighters, EMS and health professionals. Client consent is needed in each case.
For email contact, client consent is indicated on the contact form, along with how to reach the client. For phone call contacts, the OOT gathers consent verbally.
Referral forms
Overdose Outreach Team Contact Form - Regina
Overdose Outreach Team Contact Form - Saskatoon
Hours of service:
9:00 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., Monday to Friday
Regina contact
Phone: 306-510-3445
Email: OOTRegina@saskhealthauthority.ca
Saskatoon contact
Phone: 639-471-8335
Email: OOTSaskatoon@saskhealthauthority.ca
Please note that the OOT is not an emergency response team. If someone is experiencing an overdose and needs urgent assistance, please call 911.