Opioid-related deaths in Alberta decreased 31% in March, following record highs seen during COVID-19..The pandemic and related restrictions caused addiction deaths to increase, said Mental Health and Addictions Associate Minister Mike Ellis..“We hope to see the fatality rates continue to decline as we recover from the pandemic and continue to implement strategies to address the addiction crisis.”.In March, opioid-related fatalities across Alberta totalled 120, the lowest number of fatalities recorded since April 2021, about one year into the pandemic..Opioid-related deaths peaked at 175 in December 2021, coinciding with the peak of the Omicron wave and another slew of pandemic restrictions. .By March, related deaths lowered to 120, a decrease of 31%..Within Calgary, opioid-related fatalities peaked in February (63), and decreased in March (37), representing a decrease of 41%..In Edmonton, opioid-related deaths peaked in December 2021 (70), and decreased in March (38) — a decrease of 46%..Pandemic restrictions caused a sharp increase in overdose deaths across Canada, said Chuck Doucette, president of the Drug Prevention Network of Canada..“I am encouraged to see the recent drop in Alberta,” he said in a release..“It is evidence that Alberta's focus on recovery is saving lives.”.The drop comes amid the province's addiction recovery efforts. It established 8,000 addiction treatment spaces and eliminated daily user fees so residential treatment is free..The first quarter of 2021 also saw more people prescribed evidence-based opioid agonist therapy medications in Alberta. More than 7,800 Albertans are accessing Suboxone, the gold standard in opioid treatment medication.
