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Lethbridge leads the South Health Zone in Fentanyl-related deaths and ER visits

Nov 27, 2017 | 5:40 PM

LETHBRIDGE – The South Health Zone has already surpassed the number of accidental Fentanyl related overdose deaths in the first three-quarters of this year, compared with all of 2016.
 
Out in front is Lethbridge, with 13 accidental Fentanyl-related deaths.
 
According to newly published numbers from Alberta Health Services, there have been 21 Fentanyl -related deaths until the end of September 2017, in the South Zone, compared with 15 all of last year.
 
Four deaths also occured in Medicine Hat, and four others in various parts of the South Zone.
 
According to the report, most of the deaths occured in the 30-34 age group, and the majority were men.
 
The rate of Emergency Department visits related to opioid use in the South Zone is still 26 per cent higher than the rest of the province per 100,000 person years, while hospitalizations are 40 per cent higher than the provincial average. Lethbridge is 9 out of 10 on a list of the top 10 Emergency Department  facilities utilized for emergency visits related to opioid use and other substances of misuse.

 The report also finds that since 2014, the number of unintentional drug overdose deaths involving fentanyl increased from 24 per cent to 69 per cent in 2017.
 
Across the province, 400 accidental overdose deaths have been attributed to Fentanyl compared with 357 during the same time last year.