The crisis of opioids is worsening in Canada

QMI agency

Monday, December 18, 2017 21:12

UPDATE
Monday, December 18, 2017 21:12

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OTTAWA | The update of the data on deaths related to opioids, which was released Monday by the public health Agency of Canada, shows that the crisis continues to worsen in the country despite efforts to try to contain it.

The data from 10 provinces and territories indicate that at least 1460 individuals died of an overdose of opioids during the first half of 2017.

The public health Agency of Canada predicts that the number of deaths attributed to opioids in 2017 will be higher in 2016. If the trends continue, this number could exceed 4000.

Some canadian regions are affected more than others by this crisis. The Western provinces and territories continue to report much higher rates of mortality.

The update of the data also demonstrated that fentanyl is a problem that is becoming more important. From January to June 2017, fentanyl and its analogues, have been implicated in 74% of deaths apparently related to the opioid, as compared to 53 % in 2016.

The provinces, territories and the federal government collaborate in the collection of data on mortality related to opioids in December 2016. They also work hand-in-hand within the special advisory Committee on the epidemic of overdoses from opioids in order to stem the crisis that has engulfed the country.