Community leaders in northwest Saskatchewan raise concerns about new mobile detox program

WATCH: Community leaders in northwest Saskatchewan have raised concerns about the SHA's preparations to roll out a mobile detox program.

Community leaders in northwest Saskatchewan have raised concerns about the SHA’s preparations to roll out a mobile detox program with private company Medavie Health Services West.

Mayor of Île-à-la-Crosse Buckley Belanger fears once Medavie is in the community it will open the door for more privatization. He says they already have a medical centre that treats those living with addiction.

“Why would the government, I’m not gonna say SHA but the government, be forcing a private health company onto the northern Saskatchewan communities?” asked Belanger. “That doesn’t solve the problem.”

Belanger says he is also concerned that much of the new program’s diagnostic assessment would be conducted from a distance.

A statement from the Saskatchewan Health Authority (SHA) says the service would provide EMS supported at-home detox for people considered low-risk for complicated withdrawal.

“What we needed was real beds and a facility to help many of these families recover,” said Belanger. “If they’re going to turn around and count the beds in these private in-home visits that they have in Île-à-la-Crosse, well, that’s not much of an answer.”

The SHA says it engaged with northwest communities in December to explore enhancements to addiction treatments though the addition of mobile detox services and that Medavie Health Services West was found to be qualified to provide those services.

Mayor Belanger says he doubts the need for these services.

“As a community in northern Saskatchewan, trying to deal with low-risk people by giving them more drug is not much of a solution, in my opinion.”

The SHA says that mobile services are meant for low-risk individuals who may benefit from withdrawal in a home or community-based setting where support from friend and family is available.

The Medavie Health Services West website says they are a subsidiary of Medavie Health Services and part of Medavie, a national organization founded in Nova-Scotia.