The Government of Alberta is reporting a new record of drug overdose deaths in Lethbridge in the first four months of 2023. (Photo: Moussa81 | Dreamstime.com)

By David Opinko

Record 56 overdose deaths in first four months of 2023 in Lethbridge

Jun 27, 2023 | 10:46 AM

LETHBRIDGE, AB – The Government of Alberta is reporting a significant number of drug overdose deaths in the first four months of this year.

New numbers from the Alberta substance use surveillance system show that in April 2023, 20 people in Lethbridge died from overdoses. That is tied for the single-month record for the city from February 2020.

From January to the end of April 2023, the province said 56 people in Lethbridge succumbed to illicit drug use.

During the same periods in recent years, drug overdoses claimed 38 lives in 2022, 16 in 2021, 10 in 2020, and 11 in 2019.

There has been a similar trend provincially with the numbers increasing each time over the last five years.

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A total of 613 Albertans died from drug overdoses in the first four months of 2023, compared to 576 in 2022, 468 in 2021, 241 in 2020, and 213 in 2019.

Approximately 69 per cent of fatal overdose victims are men and the most common age group was 35-59.

In the Alberta Health Services South Health Zone, substance use resulted in 133 hospitalizations in the first quarter of 2023, marking a slight increase from previous years.

Monday, June 26, 2023, marked the International Day against Drug Abuse and Trafficking. A joint statement was issued by the Minister of Public Safety and Emergency Services Mike Ellis and Minister of Mental Health and Addictions Dan Williams.

They say they condemn the actions of criminal drug traffickers who prey on those suffering from addiction.

“The criminal actions of drug traffickers are abhorrent and will not be tolerated by Alberta’s government. We must have zero tolerance for the manufacturing, trafficking and dealing of these deadly and dangerous drugs,” say Ellis and Williams.

The minister add, “As Alberta’s government, we recognize the devastating losses felt by families and communities as a result of addiction, drug abuse and illicit trafficking. 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.”

The full report on drug overdoses can be found on the Alberta substance use surveillance system website.

READ MORE: Lethbridge News Now

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