The Nēwo-Yōtina Friendship Centre in Regina has been granted a new exemption to operate a supervised consumption site (SCS), as announced on December 31st. Since 2021, the Centre’s Wâhkôhtowin Harm Reduction program has been functioning under an urgent needs exemption for overdose prevention. With this development, it becomes Regina’s first supervised consumption facility, aligning with Health Canada guidelines. The Centre highlighted the proven life-saving benefits of supervised consumption sites, offering services such as drug checking.
This marks the second SCS in Saskatchewan, alongside Prairie Harm Reduction in Saskatoon. Despite the provincial government’s historical opposition to such sites, the Nēwo-Yōtina Friendship Centre secured federal approval through Health Canada, independent of provincial consent. The Saskatchewan government reiterated its stance against the safety of illicit drug use and emphasized focusing on treatment and recovery to address addiction issues. Attempts to reach the Nēwo-Yōtina Friendship Centre for further comments were unsuccessful.
