Overdose deaths in Waterloo Region on track to match last year’s record
WATERLOO REGION — Ten more people have died from suspected opioid overdoses in Waterloo Region between March 8 and April 7, bringing the total number of deaths this year to 26.
At this rate, the number of suspected opioid overdose deaths are on track to match last year’s record.
Last year 98 people died from a suspected opioid overdose, a 55 per cent increase over 2019 and the highest number of deaths in the four years since the region started tracking opioid overdoses and over-related deaths.
Sixty-three people died from suspected drug overdoses in 2019, 61 people died in 2018, and 86 people died in 2017, the first year of tracking opioidoverdose data.
Overdose-related calls to emergency services have also steadily risen this year, from an average of three calls per day at the end of 2020 to nearly four calls per day this month.
Experts say pandemic-related factors have contributed to the rise in opioid-related deaths. These factors include physical and social isolation due to public health recommendations, reduced access to social services, and a toxic, unregulated illicit drug supply.
The Waterloo Region Integrated Drugs Strategy joins other municipal drug strategies across Ontario to demand the province to remove the cap on the number of consumption and treatment services sites allowed to operate.
“Capping the number of CTS in the province creates regional disparities that do not align with communities’ needs. We, therefore, request that CTS be made available in every municipality that requests one,” reads a petition launched by the Municipal Drug Strategy co-ordinators Network of Ontario, and represents 39 municipalities and regions in the province.
There are 17 CTS sites across the province, and the provincial government said it will only fund 21.
They say opening more CTS sites will curb the rising number of overdoses and overdose deaths in Ontario.
The drug strategy is also advocating for safe supply programs to help prevent overdoses and overdose deaths from toxic and unregulated drugs. Safe supply is a medical approach that involves giving drug users access to legal prescription versions of drugs.