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By Teagan Rasche

Growing concern

Opioid overdose deaths in Medicine Hat already match last year’s total

Jul 28, 2021 | 11:53 AM

MEDICINE HAT, AB – It’s a stat that concerns HIV Community Link in Medicine Hat.

Not even halfway through the year, opioid overdose numbers for 2021 already matched last year.

“In the first four months of 2021, there have been 12 people in Medicine Hat that have died from opioid poisoning compared to one in four months in 2020,” director or program Megan Wiliamson said.

There were 12 opioid overdose deaths in all of 2020.

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Ryan Oscar with Our Collective Journey helps people struggling with mental health and addiction.

He believes there are a few reasons why the stats are the way they are.

“The border closure, maybe a toxic drug supply, a lot of people cutting things with solvents that usually aren’t in the drug supply and then fentanyl as well,” Oscar said.

He says drug and alcohol also became a more prevalent coping mechanism during the pandemic.

Williamson adds it hasn’t been as easy to get help.

“I think access to services has certainly been decreased during COVID so there’s been a lot more barriers put in place,” Williamson said.

During the pandemic, many addiction services shifted virtually and those without phones had an even harder time getting help.

Williamson also says some of the drugs are being cut with benzodiazepine, something they haven’t seen before.

She says it makes people sleepy and unresponsive, and harder to revive. Other symptoms of possible overdoses are not breathing, dizziness and choking.

Naloxone kits, which reverse the effects of an overdose, are available across the city.

“Something to note is naloxone doesn’t harm you if you’re not experiencing an opioid overdose poisoning,” Williamson said. “When in doubt, please use it, call 911 always and 911 can walk you through how to use it.”

If you need help with an addiction or know someone who does, Our Collective Journey can help point you in the right direction.

“They reach out to us, we connect them through our network or lived experienced people to someone who’s been in a similar situation like theirs,” Oscar said.