Calgary leads province in fentanyl deaths

25 died of overdoses here in first six weeks of the year

A new provincial report puts Calgary at the forefront of a tragically high number of fentanyl-related deaths in Alberta amid concerns of a deepening opioid crisis.

There were 51 overdose deaths related to fentanyl across Alberta — more than a death each day — between Jan. 1 and Feb. 11, down slightly from the previous six weeks, but nearly double the 28 deaths in the same period in 2016, according to new interim data from Alberta Health.

And nearly half of all deaths tracked so far this year occurred in Calgary.

“We knew from the fourth quarter of 2016 that we had a pretty significant jump in the numbers and what we’re seeing is a similar trend,” said Dr. Karen Grimsrud, Alberta’s chief medical officer of health. “(And) in our large urban centres — where the majority of our opioid, including fentanyl, related deaths are occurring — Calgary is higher than Edmonton.”

In the first six weeks of the year there were 25 fentanyl-related deaths in Calgary, 12 in Edmonton and eight in the northern zone. There were fewer than five deaths each in the south and central zones.

The report also revealed a big increase in the number of deaths attributed to carfentanil, a potent synthetic opioid 100 times more toxic than fentanyl.

There were 15 deaths related to carfentanil in Alberta between Jan. 1 and Feb. 11, compared to 30 deaths in all of 2016.

“That was something that stood out,” Grimsrud said. “Carfentanil is much more potent than fentanyl ... it’s so much more risky than other forms of opioids, even compared to fentanyl, which in itself is a highly toxic drug.”

Associate Health Minister Brandy Payne said the numbers confirm what front-line health workers and community agencies have been saying.

“Synthetic opioids remain a deadly threat to Albertans living with substance use, to their families, and to first responders,” Payne said.

Payne said the province allocated up to $56 million in the next year toward drug treatment, harm reduction and public awareness.

“Above all we must treat Albertans suffering in substance use with the dignity and respect that we extend to all patients in our health-care system.”

Alberta Liberal Leader Dr. David Swann said the numbers suggest the province needs to do more.

“We’re not making the progress we need to be making. There are still way too many deaths associated with this drug and opiates in general,” Swann said. “We’re not getting ahead of this.”

Swann said he’d like to see the reinstatement of a provincial chief addiction and mental health officer — a position the province dropped in 2015 — to co-ordinate the provincial response to the crisis.

He’s also urging the province to declare a state of emergency.

There are still way too many deaths associated with this drug and opiates in general. We’re not getting ahead of this.