Fentanyl deaths decline in 2019 but COVID-19 poses new concerns
Fears persist drug users won’t access supports, putting them at greater risk
The number of Albertans dying from fentanyl overdoses reached the lowest figures in three years, according to new data released by the province — but the COVID-19 pandemic could set back progress.
In the final quarter of 2019, which ended about two months before the first case of COVID-19 in Alberta, 109 people died from a fentanyl-related overdose, down from 158 during the same time period in 2018 and 178 the year prior. Alberta hasn’t seen levels this low since late 2016 when 116 people died between October and December.
“This is a good sign, but the concern now is how does COVID-19 overlap with this?” said Dr. Monty Ghosh, an addictions physician who treats clients at various Calgary clinics and social agencies.
He said the decline in opioid-related deaths is likely linked to increased harm reduction and addictions support throughout the province, including access to naloxone kits, supervised consumption services and opioid agonist treatment programs.
Ghosh is hopeful the numbers continue to fall but said “it’s anybody’s guess” how the COVID-19 crisis will impact overdoses in the province.
“If we follow what’s going on in B.C. and Ohio, for example, we will likely see higher rates of mortality, but we don’t know what it looks like for Alberta right now,” Ghosh, adding most of Calgary has actually seen a decline in overdose services, so far, with the exception of the Calgary Drop-in Centre, which has seen a major increase.
Physical distancing requirements are impacting the number of people allowed inside supervised consumption sites and could impact naloxone distribution, both of which might result in more opioid-related deaths.
The latest opioid report said there were 106,812 visits to supervised consumption services in Edmonton, Calgary, Lethbridge and Grande Prairie during the last quarter of 2019. Lethbridge had the most visitors, followed by Calgary and Edmonton, respectively.
In the same time period, 639 overdoses were attended to at these sites. There were no deaths.
Ghosh said his biggest fear is people who use drugs won’t access care, or they are using alone — both which could be fatal.
“It’s a new experience to navigate through. Everyone in the country is struggling with this right now,” he said.
“The management of substances very much intersects with how we manage the (COVID-19) crisis as well because a lot of times we can’t keep people isolated because there are substance use concerns. It’s imperative that we deal with both of these together and don’t forget that substance use concerns still exist during this time period.”
In total, 603 people died from an opioid overdose last year compared to 806 in 2018 — fentanyl and non-fentanyl. The number of non-fentanyl related overdose deaths is not yet available for the fourth quarter of 2019, so the total could climb higher.
In the last three months of 2019, there were 109 fentanyl-related overdoses compared to 121 in the previous quarter. The majority of these deaths were in the Calgary and Edmonton zones.
The provincial report said the rate of fentanyl poisoning deaths in 2019 is 23 per cent lower than the rate in 2018 and 10 per cent lower than 2017. In the majority of cases, more than one substance contributed to death, with methamphetamine and cocaine being the most common.
Just under two Albertans die each day as a result of an opioid overdose.