Kit given to addicts who use the SCS in Lethbridge

By Lara Fominoff

Latest numbers show opioid related deaths on the decline, according to AHS

Dec 27, 2019 | 11:43 AM

LETHBRIDGE, AB – It appears the rate of opioid related deaths is slowing not only in Lethbridge, but across the province – at least up until the end of September 2019.

New numbers released from the third quarter Alberta Health Services Opioid Surveillance Response Report indicate that there have so far been 15 fentanyl related deaths in Lethbridge, compared to 25 for all of 2018.

The number of accidental deaths related to an opioid other than fentanyl is also on the decline, with three deaths in the Lethbridge area so far this year, compared with seven in 2018.

According to AHS, the deaths are mainly occurring in and around the downtown area, with comparatively fewer now occurring in the north, west and southern parts of the city.

Provincially, in the third quarter of 2019, there were 120 apparent accidental opioid poisoning related deaths compared with 156 during the second quarter of this year.

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The report also states “among all confirmed drug and alcohol poisoning deaths (accidental and suicide) in 2019, opioids (fentanyl or non-fentanyl) were directly involved in 75 per cent of deaths. 25 per cent of all confirmed drug and alcohol poisoning deaths (accidental and suicide) did not involve any opioid.

“In 2019, 81 per cent of accidental fentanyl related deaths listed at least one other substance as contributing to death, the most frequent being methamphetamine (49 per cent) and cocaine (28 per cent).”

458 people have so far died of an apparent accidental opioid poisoning in Alberta. During the same time last year, 576 people died.

The fourth quarter report should be available sometime in March 2020.