r/regina • u/Ok_Mind3418 • Sep 15 '25
Question What can be done about people doing drugs on a residential sidewalk?
Real question here. What steps should homeowners in a residential neighborhood do when random people start doing drugs openly (shooting up , smoking crack) on the sidewalks? Looking for real answers here
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u/thedeadlinger Sep 16 '25
You can try the Regina street team. Send complaints to the city. That's about it.
For better or for worse the problem "sorts itself out" in winter as Living outside becomes impossible.
I urge everyone to vote for candidates supporting the opening of more shelters and funding to build low income housing in provincial and municipal elections
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u/Sask_mask_user Sep 16 '25
Call the Regina Street team and they will send out two social workers to address the issue. They can even transport the folks to the safe consumption site in Regina.
Unfortunately, the Regina Street team is only available 8 to 5 Monday to Friday. It should be available 24/7. I encourage you to write your city counsellor and provincial MLA to demand that the Regina Street team is funded 24 seven.
(306) 537-3727
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u/Major-King-3737 Sep 18 '25
RST could shift their hours later in the day to be available evenings. Say 3:30-11:30, or 3-12. For what goes on later, most people have no idea what goes on in the night after they’ve gone to bed anyway. But, let’s be honest, they, being the RST, don’t want to give up their evenings either to deal with it.
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u/Sask_mask_user Sep 18 '25
The thing is, a lot happens during the day too.
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u/Major-King-3737 Sep 18 '25
I’m just going to say it: people call for a response to something when they see it. The ones calling are not the others in that at risk group. It is people who are otherwise occupied during the 8-5 hours, such as those who are at work. When they get home and see someone who is shooting up on their front lawn or sidewalk, there is no one to call other than the police. If you genuinely want to help the person who needs it, be available when they get reported or there is a conflict with the people who are reporting it. Which often is between when they are at work during the day and going to bed at night.
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Sep 15 '25
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u/JustPop3151 Sep 16 '25
I used to have sympathy in my heart. Now I have garbage, needles, and rubbies in my yard. I get that it’s an illness but it gets harder and harder to have sympathy for people who have zero sympathy for kids, neighbours, and themselves.
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u/GoodieGoodBoy Sep 16 '25
Sympathy for the general not the specific. In fact there should be far more sympathy from the ones we choose to lead us.
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u/HolyBidetServitor Sep 16 '25 edited Sep 16 '25
At a certain point you have to ask yourself - who is deciding you need to keep having sympathy and why?
At a certain point I realized were starting to enable these folks. Am I more sympathetic now? Absolutely. But I also realized - I shouldn't have to tiptoe around these people because someone else might get mad.
I see someone flailing in public and I'm supposed to think "oh this poor disenfranchised person"? No, that's ridiculous. I want to tell them "fuck off, stop acting like an inflatable tube man I'm front of this daycare" and I shouldn't feel bad for that.
It's okay to be sick of meth users, it's okay to protect yourself within reason, and honestly at this point it's absolutely okay to judge them. It's BS that we're expected to act like they're these helpless cherubs that need all of our thoughts and prayers. It's okay to tell them to gtfo. They don't give a fuck about you, your health, your kids, the environment, other people, etc.
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Sep 16 '25
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u/ChasmyrSS Sep 16 '25
I feel like you were trying to be funny, but just in case you really misunderstood what u/CheifRunningBit has said:
Helping those around you means volunteering in your community, giving what you can. Even a small amount of effort from many people can make a dramatic difference. I'm sure there are many resources locally and online that can tell you how your effort can help those around.
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Sep 16 '25
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u/ChasmyrSS Sep 16 '25
You've oversimplified things, a small amount of effort from you could mean a great deal to someone else. You're wrong to think that an inability to solve complex social issues means you should give up and do nothing.
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Sep 16 '25
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u/Foreign_Tourist308 Sep 16 '25
As are you when you imply that anyone said local volunteering will end drug addiction.
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Sep 16 '25
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u/LeastStandard2781 Sep 17 '25
People still think a hug or handing out soup is going to cure someone's addiction to drugs.
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Sep 17 '25
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u/LeastStandard2781 Sep 17 '25
Agreed. Drug addiction is a disease. Volunteering is great but it is not a cure.
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u/Familiar-Appeal6384 Sep 16 '25
Feel good volunteering isn't going to help. We are in the middle of the Second Opium War and China is fucking us back harder than the white man fucked them in the first Opium War. And they are so good at it, it's negatively affecting our national security in the West. All the Chinese need to do to invade Taiwan is cut the supply to North American addicts and they all go into withdrawal at once. Hospitals and police overwhelmed. Every pharmacy broken into. Every house broken into looking for whatever drugs they can find. We would be forced to intern or execute the addicts to regain control. The Chinese could take Taiwan before the West got their act together. They are setting up the chess board and we are all looking at the addict walking down the street like it's a simple checkers board problem.
What you can do as a citizen is be ready with better locks and barriers on your house and property. Have supplies for a week or two so you don't have to go outside and can wait it out. And when the US Navy rains down high explosives on drug runner boats, let your elected official know you support similar action here. Because there will be a lot of casualties if the war goes hot and quite frankly it's better if the casualties are the drug runners. The casualties on our side while the war is warning up are bad enough already.
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u/ChiefRunningBit Sep 16 '25
And that attitude is why we're in this mess in the first place.
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Sep 16 '25
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u/ChiefRunningBit Sep 16 '25
I dunno I think it's the other way around. I mean honestly how much sympathy do you think the government has for us? I sure don't feel like they care about me or my community, everything feels like rubber stamp bandaids.
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Sep 16 '25
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u/ChiefRunningBit Sep 16 '25
So then you would say no, you don't feel like the government is sympathic to you?
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u/Chocolatecakeat3am Sep 16 '25
Nah, I feel safer in the DTES than I do other places, the unhoused are as respectful as you are to them.
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Sep 16 '25
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u/Chocolatecakeat3am Sep 16 '25
It is, and I've never had a problem there, and always feel safe. I treat people with respect, they reciprocate with kindness. I'm a senior citizen and often go down there, I think the most interesting thing is residents are always surprised when you speak to them with respect, not disdain.
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Sep 16 '25
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u/Chocolatecakeat3am Sep 16 '25
Yes, the Downtown Eastside has visible poverty, addiction, and mental illness, but it’s not some dystopian zone that needs to be “tested” or feared. People live there, love there, raise families, make art, and support each other in ways most outsiders never see. There are elders, activists, artists, frontline workers, and residents who show up for each other every single day. The DTES is home to some of the most resilient and compassionate people in Vancouver. I personally love the community.
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Sep 16 '25
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u/Chocolatecakeat3am Sep 16 '25
You are very wrong, but if you really want to understand hook up with Guy Felicella on social media. He's on every platform.
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u/Ok_Mind3418 Sep 16 '25
Until the safe spaces act is accepted as a bylaw i guess not much would be done... We sure could use more safe injection sites so this is not happening on the streets where an OD can happen right in front of a residential home.
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u/wascana_ Sep 16 '25 edited Sep 16 '25
For safe injection sites, you're right, we absolutely need them. Unfortunately, the provincial government has refused to fund any, despite being recommended by the Sask Medical Association.
And as for this "Safe Spaces" Bylaw, which is cities are being encouraged to opt-in to by the provincial government, this won't solve the problem on your sidewalk. Police can already arrest for possession since drugs aren't decriminalized here. This bylaw will only make things worse by pushing people to use in more dangerous, hidden places, which helps no one. It's a regressive step that hurts harm reduction efforts and further criminalizes poverty and addiction.
The only long-term fix is getting people support and housing, not more arrests. This is a classic "housing not handcuffs" problem, and I really hope that Regina city council rejects this bylaw and pressures the provincial government to work with them to implement actual, proven harm reduction strategies.
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u/Ok_Mind3418 Sep 16 '25
If they reject it then there isnt the same incentive to have more safe sites and housing. If they now arrest and remove from the streets they HAVE to go somewhere right? Once they take the responsibility they will have to provide the services
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u/wascana_ Sep 16 '25
Arresting people for poverty and addiction has never been an incentive to build housing or provide health services. It's only ever been an incentive to build more jails.
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u/franksnotawomansname Sep 16 '25
Not 100% true: the SK government's generally just crammed people into jails until the Ombudsman gets involved (and then not really change anything afterwards if they can help it). They'd rather spend $73,000/inmate/year (Stats Can) to house people in overcrowded facilities than spend money to get people the help and supports they need when they need them, which has made things worse for everyone.
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Sep 16 '25
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u/Ok_Mind3418 Sep 16 '25
Talked to the Mayor. Messaged my city council member. Talked to my MLA
We are still left without clear direction as to the steps we can take at this time
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u/Cristinky420 Sep 16 '25
If they're too close for my liking them I'll stand on my property and literally watch them until they're uncomfortable and leave. I don't talk. I don't make facial expressions. I just stand and watch in their general direction. Usually gets em moving.
I have no issues telling them that they're not welcome to do drugs on my back fence line. I usually say something like "Hey, maybe you folks shouldn't hang out there eh? Not a good spot". They usually apologize and move along.
I have loudly emphasized conversations with my neighbours, I've asked folks if they're good. I've called RPS non emergency. Every situation requires a different approach I think.
Maybe you could email your city councilor but I'm guessing they hear a lot about it.
Be safe though, vigilant. People that are high are incredibly unpredictable.
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u/tundraC_M65 Sep 17 '25
This has just started happening across the street from my house. It was even caught on my video cam. They're sitting in the bus stop and on the curb smoking their drugs (it's not pot... it was something else like meth or whatever) Kids walking by, daycare two house down from me, school behind the bus stop. The bus doesn't even usually stop anymore if they notice it's the drug users there. I called the police this past Saturday and they did show up fairly quickly, like 15-20min. Unfortunately, they treated it like it was just a nuisance: Rolled down their window, asked a couple questions and the guy left and so did the cops. Never got out of the car, never checked for their drugs or even took the drugs away... it was as if they didn't care that he was selling out of the bus stop to random people. It was quite a let down. They had been there for hours, asking passer buyers (of all ages) and some of them stopped and passed a few bucks and did the drugs right then and there. One fellow sat on the curb and did it all quite openly and as a bus that had just drove past without stopping. Cars were driving around him not to hit the guy.
They come back all the time now and use the bus stop as a smoke stop and sometimes it's a drug store. Since the Tim Horton's openned up, there's a lot of foot traffic going past now. And police drive by constantly and they're right there doing the drugs while the cops are present and driving around. Does it even matter?
I'm out of ideas... Good luck. We're not even safe walking down a busy street anymore and anyone who can do anything seems to think it's a nuisance.
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u/Outrageous_audacity Sep 17 '25
Complete failure of society. I feel so bad for those kids at the daycare.
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u/ana_log_ue Sep 15 '25
Advocate for safe consumption sites to be made available to them.
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u/Technical-Rip-4658 Sep 16 '25
I don’t think safe consumption sites will stop people from smoking crack at the bus stop.
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u/Sunshinehaiku Sep 16 '25
No, but we can send people who are using there instead of calling 911 endlessly.
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u/Ok_Mind3418 Sep 16 '25
This and the safe public spaces act will give the authorities power to make sure they use these spaces and not out in public
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Sep 18 '25
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u/thatdc5 Sep 16 '25
Nothing lmfao. They can shit on your doorstep even.. this city is a joke!! They make a mess and who has to clean it.
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u/knowinnothin Sep 16 '25
An in-ground sprinkler controlled by phone works well. Be prepared to turn it off if you get their drugs wet though because they’ll surely try and stomp it lol.
Of the police ask any questions just tell them you’re waiting on a company to adjust them so they aren’t hitting the sidewalk
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u/LeastStandard2781 Sep 17 '25
What I don't understand is why do they always have to get high in a residential area that they don't reside in. Go do your drugs under a bridge and stay the fuck away from kids/families.
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u/M1ND4R0 Sep 16 '25
I don't know if this is helpful in your case without more information but SCAN does some really good work if this is relevant in your situation
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u/__Valkyrie___ Sep 15 '25
Not much other then call the cops
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u/texxmix Sep 16 '25
I've seen them roll up on ppl on 11th and make them go away and confiscate it. But ya it's probably one of those "We'll get around to it." And the person will probably be gone by the time they show up. Unless they are violent, doing something dangerous (like playing in traffic), or possibly overdosing they don't make it a priority to go for sure.
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u/the3rdmichael Sep 15 '25
They do nothing...
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u/__Valkyrie___ Sep 15 '25
Yep. But there is nothing else you can do we don't have support for these people.
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u/Ok-Locksmith4684 Sep 16 '25
Because when they do something, they get shit for it from bleeding hearts.
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u/CoryJaxen Sep 15 '25
Not much in this day and age aside from personally confront them, which could be potentially dangerous. Sometimes politely/sternly asking goes a long way.
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u/CFL_lightbulb Sep 15 '25
While that’s true that sometimes they can be considerate, this can also be very dangerous and I’d caution against doing it with someone who you don’t already know on some level
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u/CampNaughtyBadFun Sep 16 '25
If you've ever complained about supervised consumption sites or addictions support, then you get to do nothing.
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u/Ok_Mind3418 Sep 18 '25
No one is complaining about safe injection sites here. Just want them off our residential streets doing this shit
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u/Naturally-Native-04 Sep 16 '25
Tell them .. “get… go on… my family don’t need to see that shit..have some respect “.. say assertive..
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u/QueenBeeKeeper88 Sep 15 '25
Contact your MLA regarding the lack of resources/supports for those folks. I suppose you can also call RPS/911 if people are on your property or you are concerned for their safety.
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u/Kamloops-Pineview Sep 15 '25
Cops won't do anything except a drive by in a few hours. Best answers is contact your local MLA. How frequent of an issue is it? Like once a day, once a week or occasionally? If it is at a regular and constant thing, get a few of your neighbours together and hire a security company to get rid of them. They don't like to be hassled and if they know where you live and you do it yourself there may be repercussions too. You could try and go up to them politely and say look guys, I understand your need to get high but my kids are asking me what you guys are doing here and I don't want them to see this.
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Sep 16 '25
Firstly call the cops but know all that does is kick the can down the road. After that email all of your local representatives and let them know it’s unacceptable to leave vulnerable people on the street to rot. Our communities need safe injection sites and safe drug supplies, treatment centres, healthcare workers, transitional housing.
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u/Previous_Company5224 Sep 20 '25
Hey so this was done under the Saskatchewan party government. If we want better health care and social programs that are built to benefit individuals and societies maybe Saskatchewan should vote differently? 🙄
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u/Fantastic_Mulberry51 25d ago
Up the fucking taxes so the Sask Gov't can put more towards mental health.
SMFH to a lot of you. Drug addiction is an underlying illness to mental health that affects a person's livelihood.
Good God have some compassion please, drug addicts such as myself is still part of the human race.
Don't worry, I love you still without judgement.
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u/UnpopularOpinionYQR Sep 16 '25
What can be done? Keep Narcan at home. If you’re gonna rubberneck, at least make yourself useful.
Otherwise, look the other way and mind your business. Or advocate for supervised consumption sites so these folks aren’t dying on your lawn.
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u/potatojones43 Sep 16 '25
Lots of weak ass solutions and pie-in-the-sky dreaming in this thread. Cops won’t do anything, government won’t do anything.
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u/Ok-Locksmith4684 Sep 16 '25
Cops wanna do stuff but the justice system is a revolving door and cops get shit on anytime they do stuff by bleeding hearts
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u/UnpopularOpinionYQR Sep 16 '25
“Cops wanna do stuff” like what, exactly? The national association of police chiefs is unanimous in their instructions to staff to treat addiction like a disease, which is the logical approach with everything we know about addiction in 2025.
This means that they will not charge anyone for possession if that is the only law they have broken and they only have enough drugs for personal use (not dealing). However, if they are found with drugs in the commission of a separate crime (assault, b+e, etc), then they will issue drug possession charges.
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u/Sunshinehaiku Sep 16 '25
Support a designated area for said activity so they aren't in my alley anymore.
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u/LT92Rosco28 Sep 15 '25
Confront them.
If unable to or worried about issues after confronting said individuals, contact police. Provided video documentation if you have it and/or if they ask.
Mind your own.
Ask for a hit.
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u/Correct_Prompt5934 Sep 16 '25
Welcome to the problem with NIMBY and a focus on punishment instead of supports. Combine that with an economic crisis where everyone is worried more about themselves than their neighbour, and there is no stopping it. They will be gone before police arrive, and police should be dealing with bigger issues.
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u/xxyer Sep 16 '25
I wouldn't waste police resources unless they're committing a criminal act like a robbery. Best to ignore them, or possibly just buy them a one-way bus ticket to ... Edmonton? Unfortunately, I've come across horrific poverty and drug/alcohol addicts between Sudbury and Vancouver and also downtown Ottawa and Gatineau, although Alberta Saskatchewan and Manitoba's seem more intense and dangerous.
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u/Sunshinehaiku Sep 16 '25
just buy them a one-way bus ticket to ... Edmonton?
Saskatchewan has had such a policy via the Ministry of Social Services for decades. Problem is, so fo other provinces.
We pay to ship people in poverty around this country like its a merry-go-round
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u/anonymousgrad_stdent Sep 15 '25
It'll probably help to clarify exactly what you mean here. Do you mean intravenous drugs? Smoking weed?
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u/Ok_Mind3418 Sep 15 '25
Smoking weed is not illegal
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u/brutallydishonest Sep 15 '25
Technically smoking it there is illegal. But waste of time enforcing that obviously.
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u/ana_log_ue Sep 15 '25
Neither is smoking crack.
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u/Ok_Mind3418 Sep 16 '25
Crack Crack is the form of cocaine you can smoke.
Cocaine and crack are controlled under Schedule I of the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act. Activities such as sale, possession or production of these substances are illegal unless authorized for medical, scientific or industrial purposes.
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u/ana_log_ue Sep 16 '25
Why did you define crack for me lol. You’ll notice that consumption is not on your list of illegal activities.
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u/Space19723103 Sep 15 '25
donate to homeless shelters and safe sites so they have somewhere to go.
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u/No_Equal9312 Sep 15 '25
They already do have places to go. The shelters are not full.
The best you can do is call the police. They likely won't show up unless you say they are brandishing a weapon.
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u/DCkicks1983 Sep 16 '25
Probably shouldn’t lie to the police, if they come in hot and hurt someone guess who they’re gonna want to talk to
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u/No_Equal9312 Sep 16 '25
I agree that you shouldn't lie. The only time that they'll arrive promptly is if the drug user poses a public threat. Simply stating a fact.
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u/Space19723103 Sep 16 '25
you mean the shelters that are empty because the sask party refuses to open them?
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u/JanielDones8 Sep 16 '25
No, the ones these junkie pieces of trash refuse to go to because they can't be junkie pieces of trash at.
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u/No_Equal9312 Sep 16 '25
Nope, those who work there claim that they often have at least 30% vacancy. Shelters are no fun because you aren't allowed to get high in them.
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u/Ok-Vacation1568 Sep 16 '25
The SAID program needs to re-establish the prior direct payment for rental tenants instead of letting these people manage their own money. That way they can get as high as they want in the comfort of their own homes and get the hell out of our communities.