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The growing issue of drug exposure is putting Saskatchewan’s young population at risk and even causing deaths, according to the Saskatchewan advocate for children and youth.
Dr. Lisa Broda, whose office works to advance the rights, interests and well being of children across the province, tabled her annual report for 2025 with the Saskatchewan Legislative Assembly on Wednesday, detailing her discovery of dozens of cases involving children being exposed to toxic drugs.
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The report revealed that between 2019 and 2025, more than 40 children under the age of five died or were injured in the province after being exposed to fentanyl, methamphetamine and/or cocaine.
“It’s striking,” Broda told reporters at a news conference on Wednesday. “These children are highly vulnerable, being in their age of zero to five, and don’t have a voice.”
Broda said the children were not intentionally ingesting the toxic drugs, but were exposed by others using the substances around them.
“Even a few grains of fentanyl left on a table could be fatal to an adult, let alone a child,” Broda said.
The advocate said inconsistencies in data collection reporting across child-serving ministries is leaving gaps when it comes to knowledge and prevention.
She added that health and addiction services for adults caring for children is critical, and noted that even when a sober caregiver is present, the mere presence of toxic drugs in a child’s environment can put them at risk.
“Prevention will be key there,” Broda said. “If we have a sufficient pathway to doing that, then we know that will protect children better.”
Broda reminded Saskatchewan residents of their legal duty to report safety concerns to child protection authorities, which includes instances when children are exposed to toxic substances.
The report also noted that issues related to case planning and case management have been a consistent theme when it comes to child welfare, education and health.
Broda said those issues can be seen in many ways, which include children not being able to attend school or struggling with poverty and neglect.
“Many youth (call) us, telling us they have no transition services, or the difficulty for transitioning to adulthood,” she said.
Broda attributed these issues to a lack of existing services and human-resources shortages.
According to the report, the provincial advocate’s office receives around 1,800 files per year, with 67 per cent of them related to the Ministry of Social Services.
“The injury or death to any child is something that’s unacceptable,” said the province’s Minister of Social Services, Terry Jenson. “It’s something that is a tragedy.”
Jenson said the ministry takes the work of the child and youth advocate seriously and will work on the suggestions and recommendations made.
In the next number of weeks, he said the ministry will be meeting with the advocate to discuss the report in greater detail and seek feedback.
He added that in the past year the Ministry of Social Services has hired an additional 90 people in the area of child and family programs to help with the existing workforce and the pressures it faces.
–with files from 980 CJME’s Lisa Schick
