We cut the legs off people, and then we blame them that they don't access things: Transportation as a missing link to accessing substance use services in Saskatchewan 

Saskatchewan’s major intercommunity travel option, the Saskatchewan Transportation Company (STC), had been a vital mobility link to over 200,000 citizens every year before its abrupt closure in 2017. Comprised of 41 buses connecting 253 communities, this closure had serious implications for those in Saskatchewan who are unable to transport themselves. Unreliable access to transportation has been cited as the most commonly documented / reported non-medical barrier to clients seeking substance use disorder (SUD) and mental health outpatient services - reinforcing our concern for a lack of a transportation system.3 This qualitative study interviewed 11 service providers and stakeholders, where five major transportation barriers to accessing SUD treatment in Saskatchewan were identified and expressed as ROAD+S: Relationships with others and the community, Ongoing lack of accessible public transportation, Ability of public transportation to provide safe transportation for all, Difficulty with immediate same day transportation, and Stigmatization. These barriers scratch the surface of issues surrounding transportation and its role in accessible SUD care. Expanding upon existing services but tailoring them to better support those seeking SUD treatment is a strengths-based way to begin to improve transportation options for patients in Saskatchewan.