CHAT File Photo

By Regan Tate

Province sees significant decline in opioid-related deaths

Sep 25, 2022 | 6:00 AM

Medicine Hat, AB–There has been a significant decline in the number of opioid-related deaths in Alberta.

The number of lives lost to opioids peaked in late 2021. In July of this year, 92 deaths were reported across the province. That’s a 47 percent decrease from the peak and the lowest number reported since April 2020.

Mike Ellis the Associate Minister of Mental and Health addictions says “while every life lost to addiction is one too many, the steady decline in opioid deaths in Alberta is a positive sign.”

Ellis believes now is the time to redouble efforts to make it as easy as possible for Albertans to pursue recovery from addiction.

In Medicine Hat, there were 3 opioid-related fatalities in July 2022. That is down from October 2021 when the city saw 6 lives lost.

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Emergency Medical Services (EMS) is also seeing a decrease in the number of calls related to opioids. Over a six week average from the end of June to the beginning of August, EMS responded to 838 opioid related calls. That’s down from 1,377 the year before.

Emergency department visits due to opioids are also down. The provincial government notes that alcohol, not opioids continues to be the greatest driver of substance-related emergency department visits and hospitalizations.