Toronto Public Health (TPH) has released early data from the Office of the Chief Coroner of Ontario revealing there were 511 fatal drug overdoses in Toronto in 2021, a 74% increase from 2019. .“Any life lost to a drug overdose is preventable and totally unacceptable,” said Toronto Mayor John Tory in a Friday press release. .“Every death from an overdose is a tragedy that leaves families, loved ones and friends devastated.”.The press release said in 2021, there were 6,005 non-fatal calls and 357 fatal calls attended by Toronto paramedics for suspected opioid overdoses, a 65% increase compared to 2020. .Ontario Ministry of Health data shows the monthly number of emergency room visits due to opioid poisoning in Toronto in fall 2021 was the highest seen since 2017. In 2021, there were 3,947 emergency room visits because of opioid poisoning. .“The overdose crisis continues to be an urgent public health issue in Toronto,” said Toronto medical officer of health Dr. Eileen de Villa. .“In keeping with our response to the COVID-19 pandemic, addressing the drug poisoning crisis of this size and scale requires resources and action from all levels of government.” .The press release said Toronto will continue to work on implementing the Toronto Overdose Action Plan. The Toronto Overdose Action Plan consists of providing drug users with harm reduction, education, and treatment services through the Works and advocacy towards drug decriminalization. .Toronto submitted an exemption request to Health Canada for drug possession for personal use to be treated as a health issue rather than a criminal one in January. TPH said it will continue to request drugs be decriminalized in Toronto. .“We remain ready to work with the Government of Canada and the Government of Ontario – this is principally the responsibility of the provincial healthcare system – to help implement much more robust and expanded healthcare and addiction treatment,” said Tory..“We know from our health experts that this is what is needed and it is time that both governments work together with us to get this done to help save the lives of residents in Toronto and across our country.”.It is expected that drug overdose deaths in Toronto will go up as the Office of the Chief Coroner of Ontario completes its investigations, according to the press release. .Saskatoon’s Board of Police Commissioners started looking into decriminalizing drug possession with a federal exemption in April..This exemption would cover drugs such as cocaine, fentanyl, and heroin..At the moment, Saskatoon police charge a person with criminal drug possession, and it goes through the court system.
