(File photo/CKOM News)

By Jaryn Vecchio

Overdoses

Northern communities on pace for fewer drug-related deaths, suspected deaths still being investigated

Dec 28, 2021 | 1:52 PM

As the year comes to a close, multiple northern communities appear to be on pace to see a drop in the number of drug-related deaths.

From January to November, Prince Albert, North Battleford, and Lloydminster are expected to see fewer confirmed fatal overdoses than in 2020.

The three communities have combined for 13 confirmed deaths, down from the 23 they saw last year.

There have been no confirmed overdoses in Ahtahkakoop Cree Nation, Buffalo Narrows, Canoe Narrows, Ile a la Crosse, La Loche, Little Red First Nation, Marshall, Melfort, Nipawin, Pierceland, Shellbrook, Spiritwood, and Uranium City.

These 13 communities combined for 14 deaths in 2020.

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However, the Saskatchewan Coroners Service, which released the data, notes there are another 195 deaths across the province believed to be drug-related, which could increase the numbers.

They did not specify where these deaths happened.

Meanwhile, there have been 211 confirmed fatal overdoses across the province over the past 11 months.

When adding the confirmed and suspected deaths, there have been 78 more than all of 2020.

Fentanyl continues to be the main problem, however, acetylfentanyl continues to be an increasing problem.

This drug, which the World Health Organization claims is nearly 16 times more potent than morphine, caused 10 deaths.

In 2020, it accounted for 142 deaths and so far in 2021, 113.

—

Jaryn.Vecchio@pattisonmedia.com

On Twitter: @princealbertnow