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By Josh Hall (Twitter: @Vancan19)

Worrisome Trend

Alberta opioid deaths hit record highs, Red Deer behind only Lethbridge for death rate

Jun 27, 2023 | 3:18 PM

Deaths from opioids in Alberta are hitting new and tragic heights, according to new data released Tuesday on the Alberta substance use surveillance system.

There were 179 across Alberta in April alone, higher than any month previous. There were 175 in December 2021.

The 179 is part of a disturbing trend, which saw numbers rise month to month for the entire first third of this year, which is the extent to which data is available right now.

There were 115 opioid deaths in January, 151 in February and 168 in March.

That’s 613 through April, compared to 576 in the first four months of 2022, and is the highest total for that part of the year since data started being collected in 2016.

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“We recognize the devastating losses felt by families and communities as a result of addiction, drug abuse and illicit trafficking,” said Dan Williams, Minister of Mental Health and Addiction, in a statement on Tuesday. “The most recent drug fatality data confirms why addressing drug use and illicit trafficking must be top of mind, and my heart goes out to all those who have lost a loved one.”

In Red Deer, there were seven opioid deaths in April, up from three in each of the first three months of 2023, for a total of 16.

Last year, there were 22 through April, and 44 at year’s end. There were 16 through April 2021, and 38 over the year.

The most for one month in Red Deer was 10 in November 2018, and only one time since then has there been more opioid-caused deaths in one month than there were in April 2022 — eight in Dec. 2022.

“Today is a reminder that we need to create a better Alberta for our children and grandchildren. Our vision for Alberta is one where families have an opportunity to live in healthy communities that are free of illicit drug use and trafficking,” Williams continued. “Our vision is one where those suffering with addiction have immediate access to treatment and the opportunity to pursue recovery.”

Furthermore, Red Deer’s rate of opioid deaths in April was 73.1 per 100,000 person years, second most of the major cities, behind only Lethbridge which hit 234.0 with 20 deaths in April.

Calgary’s rate is 62.8; Edmonton 51.9, Fort McMurray 14.5, Grande Prairie 30.7, and Medicine Hat 50.9.

“While we have made significant strides towards [our] vision over the past four years, it is clear more needs to be done to support treatment and recovery from addiction. That’s why Alberta’s government is moving quickly to build 11 new recovery communities, some of which are in direct partnership with First Nations, and expand access to a variety of no-fee addiction treatment programs for all Albertans,” Williams concluded.

“Together we will achieve our moral obligation to prevent suffering for our children, to help those suffering with addiction pursue recovery, and to hold criminals, who have caused so much harm in our communities, accountable.”

Also notable for Red Deer is that for the first time, 100 per cent of deaths in Q1 this year occurred in private residences — 67 per cent in people’s own home and 33 per cent in someone else’s.

Two-thirds occurring in someone’s own home is also the highest mark for that category since Q1 2018 when it hit 92 per cent.

“It’s important to highlight that these deaths are happening in homes,” Reed Charbonneau, interim executive director, Turning Point Society, said on Tuesday. “As long as we have such a toxic illicit supply of substances, people need to be aware of remote spotting services such as the National Overdose Prevention Service (NORS) and the Digital Overdose Response Service (DORS), and everyone in the province should have naloxone and know how to use it.”

rdnewsNOW requested comment from Alberta Health Services, which took over Red Deer’s overdose prevention site May 31, but AHS deferred to the minister’s statement.

READ MORE: AHS to take control of Red Deer overdose prevention site on May 31

For more data, visit the Alberta substance use surveillance system.