Drug overdose deaths falling from record highs in Alberta

“Now is the time to redouble our efforts to make it as easy as possible for Albertans to pursue recovery from addiction,” says Ellis. “We will continue working tirelessly to address the addiction crisis, reduce deaths even further, and make treatment and recovery as accessible as possible.”

In Lethbridge, three people died due to drug overdoses in the month of July. An all-time record for the city was set in February 2022 when 20 Lethbridgians lost their lives.

In the first seven months of this year, there have been a total of 50 drug poisoning deaths in Lethbridge.

“Every major city in Alberta has seen a significant decrease since their respective peak,” reads a media release from the Alberta Government.

Among the Albertans who died as a result of drug overdoses, fentanyl was detected in 94% of cases while methamphetamine was found in the person’s body 51% of the time.

Men are disproportionately impacted by fatal drug overdoses, comprising 72.4% of all incidents in Alberta. People aged 35-39 are most commonly the victims.

The province has announced several initiatives over the last couple of years aimed at helping those who are suffering from addiction.

Earlier this year, construction started on a new recovery community facility just east of Lethbridge that is expected to include 50 residential treatment beds.

The government also allocated $5 million to organizations across Alberta to provide recovery-oriented care.

The full Alberta substance use surveillance system report can be viewed on the Alberta Government website.

by David Opinko

Drug overdose deaths falling from record highs in Alberta

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