Overdose deaths reach eight-month high
By Al Beeber - Lethbridge Herald on November 7, 2023.
LETHBRIDGE HERALDabeeber@lethbridgeherald.com Three people died from overdoses in Lethbridge in August, the latest month for which provincial statistics are available.Those deaths brought to 94 the number of people who have been killed from drug overdoses this year.
The eight-month total is the highest since the province began tracking overdose deaths since 2016.
The highest monthly number of deaths this year occurred in April when 21 were record. February, March and June all recorded 14 deaths while May and July had 10 each. January had eight recorded overdose deaths.
In 2022, the city had 53 recorded overdose deaths through August in comparison. In 2021, there were 31 recorded overdose deaths.
Medicine Hat also recorded three overdose deaths in August, bringing its total in the first eight months of 2023 to 27.
Red Deer had two overdoses deaths in August, bringing its eight-month total to 34.
Calgary, in the first eight months of 2023, record 458 overdose deaths including 51 in August. Its highest monthly total came in April with 76.
The provincial capital of Edmonton recorded 423 overdose deaths through August, including 65 that month which set a monthly high for 2023.
Provincially, Alberta recorded a total of 1,262 overdose deaths through August including 147 that month. The monthly high was 187 in April. Follow @albeebHerald on Twitter 4
-3
