THE SIGNS SAY IT ALL
More than 1,370 Albertans died of drug poisonings between January and October, marking deadliest year on recordAnna Junker
More than 1,370 Albertans died of a drug poisoning between January and October, making it the deadliest year on record since tracking deaths began, the latest substance use surveillance data shows.
© Provided by Edmonton Journal
Participants in International Overdose Awareness Day march through downtown Edmonton on Aug. 31, 2021.
On Wednesday afternoon, the province’s substance use surveillance data which tracks drug poisoning deaths was updated to include drug poisoning deaths that occurred in September and October.
According to the data, there were 156 drug poisoning deaths in September and 153 in October, bringing the total number of Albertans who have died from an overdose to 1,372.
There were a total of 1,351 drug poisoning deaths in 2020, making 2021 the deadliest year on record since the province began tracking numbers in 2016.
Edmonton continues to lead municipalities in the number of poisoning deaths. In September, there were 62 deaths with 59 of those opioid-related, while 57 occurred in October, including 56 that were opioid-related.
A total of 512 Edmontonians have died of a drug poisoning between January and October this year and of those 473 were opioid-related.
Calgary saw a total of 48 drug poisoning deaths in both September and October. There were 45 specific opioid-related deaths in September and 46 in October.
A total of 438 Calgarians have died and of those 390 were opioid-related.
Drug poisoning deaths also rose in August to 129, from 118 previously reported.
The province also released a report on the impacts drug poisonings are having on First Nations.
According to the report, in 2020 the opioid poisoning death rate for First Nations people was 142.8 per 100,000 people. This is compared to 19.5 per 100,000 people among the general population.
Between 2016 to 2019, the annual rate of opioid poisoning deaths per 100,000 people increased year over year on average by 16 per cent. However, the report states, the rate increased by 105 per cent from 2019 to 2020.
In a statement, associate minister of mental health and addictions Mike Ellis said the current crisis has been exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic and the fourth wave fuelled further fatalities.
“This trend is being seen in other jurisdictions, including British Columbia where 201 suspected overdose deaths were recorded in October alone,” Ellis said.
“My heart goes out to the families who have lost loved ones as a result of the illness of addiction, whether it be from opioids or any other substance. It is evident that addiction affects everyone in our communities.”
He noted Alberta’s commitment to funding addiction treatment spaces, and supported medication-based treatment such as Suboxone and Sublocade .
“With the onset of the Omicron variant of COVID-19, it is uncertain whether the pandemic impacts will carry into the new year,” Ellis said.
“With current world events, we expect it could get worse before it gets better. We will do everything we can to ensure Albertans continue to be able to access a comprehensive system that meets people where they are at and helps them get where they need to go.”
Alyssa Miller, founder and strategic director of Boots on Ground, a rapid, mobile outreach response to the opioid crisis, said more needs to be done.
“It’s soul crushing,” said Miller. “These are entirely preventable deaths, and I am so blown away by the lackluster response to one of the deadliest crises that we’re experiencing with this toxic supply and these drug poisoning deaths.”
Miller said Alberta’s drug supply is contaminated and a safe supply is needed. She said there also aren’t enough supervised consumption services available.
On Wednesday afternoon, the province’s substance use surveillance data which tracks drug poisoning deaths was updated to include drug poisoning deaths that occurred in September and October.
According to the data, there were 156 drug poisoning deaths in September and 153 in October, bringing the total number of Albertans who have died from an overdose to 1,372.
There were a total of 1,351 drug poisoning deaths in 2020, making 2021 the deadliest year on record since the province began tracking numbers in 2016.
Edmonton continues to lead municipalities in the number of poisoning deaths. In September, there were 62 deaths with 59 of those opioid-related, while 57 occurred in October, including 56 that were opioid-related.
A total of 512 Edmontonians have died of a drug poisoning between January and October this year and of those 473 were opioid-related.
Calgary saw a total of 48 drug poisoning deaths in both September and October. There were 45 specific opioid-related deaths in September and 46 in October.
A total of 438 Calgarians have died and of those 390 were opioid-related.
Drug poisoning deaths also rose in August to 129, from 118 previously reported.
The province also released a report on the impacts drug poisonings are having on First Nations.
According to the report, in 2020 the opioid poisoning death rate for First Nations people was 142.8 per 100,000 people. This is compared to 19.5 per 100,000 people among the general population.
Between 2016 to 2019, the annual rate of opioid poisoning deaths per 100,000 people increased year over year on average by 16 per cent. However, the report states, the rate increased by 105 per cent from 2019 to 2020.
In a statement, associate minister of mental health and addictions Mike Ellis said the current crisis has been exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic and the fourth wave fuelled further fatalities.
“This trend is being seen in other jurisdictions, including British Columbia where 201 suspected overdose deaths were recorded in October alone,” Ellis said.
“My heart goes out to the families who have lost loved ones as a result of the illness of addiction, whether it be from opioids or any other substance. It is evident that addiction affects everyone in our communities.”
He noted Alberta’s commitment to funding addiction treatment spaces, and supported medication-based treatment such as Suboxone and Sublocade .
“With the onset of the Omicron variant of COVID-19, it is uncertain whether the pandemic impacts will carry into the new year,” Ellis said.
“With current world events, we expect it could get worse before it gets better. We will do everything we can to ensure Albertans continue to be able to access a comprehensive system that meets people where they are at and helps them get where they need to go.”
Alyssa Miller, founder and strategic director of Boots on Ground, a rapid, mobile outreach response to the opioid crisis, said more needs to be done.
“It’s soul crushing,” said Miller. “These are entirely preventable deaths, and I am so blown away by the lackluster response to one of the deadliest crises that we’re experiencing with this toxic supply and these drug poisoning deaths.”
Miller said Alberta’s drug supply is contaminated and a safe supply is needed. She said there also aren’t enough supervised consumption services available.
“The current government’s reactive, ideologically based recovery system is not working,” said Miller. “People are dying at unprecedented levels in Alberta and we see it on the frontlines. People who use drugs deserve compassion, dignity and personal autonomy and the current policies are stigmatizing and continuing to criminalize our community members.”
Miller said people using illicit and criminalized substances on the street don’t want to die but that’s what is happening because there is no drug checking, no regulated supply and they are not meeting people where they are at — not everybody is ready to go into treatment, she said.
If you or someone you know is using substances, do not use alone. If you are using alone, you can contact the National Overdose Response Service at 1-888-688-NORS for support, or download the BRAVE or DORS app.
— With files from Kellen Taniguchi
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