The Saskatchewan government started an awareness campaign on Tuesday to help prevent deaths from opioid overdoses.

They're trying to increase public knowledge of how to recognize signs of an overdose, and the steps people should be taking next.

The province has been funding the dispersal of Naloxone kits - which reverse the effects of an overdose - through the Saskatchewan Health Authority since April. Over that time they say the frequency of people coming for kits has increased.

Five replacement kits have been given out, which means the previous kit was either used, stolen, lost, or expired.

There are also kits sold privately in the area.