Medicine Hat opioid deaths continue on record-setting pace
By MEDICINE HAT NEWS on August 18, 2023.
https://www.medicinehatnews.com@MedicineHatNews Opioid deaths continued to rise in Medicine Hat after a record-setting start to the year, according to the latest figures released by the province’s statistical drug surveillance system. Six deaths attributed to opioid use were reported in the city in May, the latest month available in the data, bringing the total for 2023 to 18. Medicine Hat recorded three deaths per month from January to April. If that rate continues, local deaths could exceed 40 this year – more than the 36 recorded in 2021, the worst year to date. The six fatal incidents in May equal the most in any month in Medicine Hat since early 2016 when records began. Six were also recorded in October 2021. The number of opioid deaths fell in May at Calgary (to 62), Edmonton (38), Grande Prairie (1) and Lethbridge (10), and remained constant in Red Deer (7) and Fort McMurray (1). In total 125 deaths related to opioids were recorded in those cities and 26 in other locations. 9-8
