Saskatoon's most vulnerable falling victim to methamphetamine

You know there's something strange happening on the streets of Saskatoon when you see a man, hiding behind a bike lane post, convinced he's well hidden and that no one can see him.

It's just one of the things the Community Support Program has seen over the last six months. That's because there's an ominous presence out there in the form of methamphetamine.

"We try and engage and help the best that we can," said CSP supervisor Lesley Prefontaine.

People like Prefontaine patrol some of the city's toughest turf armed only with kindness, empathy and compassion.

The city's Community Support Program is a five person team of beat officers who walk Riversdale, Downtown, and Broadway trying to make the streets safer for everyone.

A key part of the job is reaching out to addicts, some of this city's most vulnerable residents. Prefontaine said that meth is making their job more dangerous.

"They tend to be more aggressive and I guess that's what we notice too and with that comes the complication of where do we bring them — and how do we help them from there."

Police confirm meth use on the rise

Sometimes the CSP officers are able to find a detox bed or a safe place for meth users to go. But too often, the only option is to call police.

Robin Wintermute is a detective sergeant with the drug street team. Wintermute also sees a dangerous shift occurring with street people on meth.

"They are not in a calm state of mind for the most part," said Wintermute.

"You know we are finding aggressive behaviour," he said. "They get a rush of confidence, high boost of energy, they are hyper alert."

So far in 2016, according to police, arrests for trafficking and possessing methamphetamine have almost doubled over the same time period last year.

CSP officers say meth use is heartbreaking

And for the small team of support officers there is much more at play, beyond the alarming crime statistics and the rise of meth among addicts on the streets. There is also heartbreak.

"We do build relationships with these individuals," said Prefontaine.

Prefontaine said what they are seeing is a dramatic decline in the health and well-being of addicts. People who had been struggling with alcohol problems, and now many have moved on to a dangerous, highly addictive and physically debilitating drug.

"We've seen people who spiral from a life of addiction — but a somewhat manageable one — to something that's very destructive," she said. "They are important to us, they are important to other people in our community, and we don't want to see someone fall ill to something like that."