Edmonton councillors to get update on opioid crisis

The number of opioid overdose deaths continues to rise across Alberta in 2018, according to a report headed to Edmonton city council'scommunity and public services committee next week.

The report says 355 people in the province died from apparent accidental opioid overdoses from January to June 2018. In the same period last year, 332 people died. The number rose to687 overdose deaths by the end of2017.

On average, more than two people are dying every day in Alberta from opioid overdoses.

In Edmonton, the latest data shows a slight drop in the number of fentanyldeaths.

Alberta Health Services reported 35 fentanyl overdose deaths between April and June this year, down from a high of 55 deaths in the last months of 2017.

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However, fentanyl overdose deaths are still far higher than the numbers recorded in the early months of 2014.

The report highlights the work ofthe city's safe injection sites, Edmonton Fire Rescue Services and the provincial opioidemergency response commission.

Safe injection sites at Boyle Street Community Services and George Spady Centre have reversed at least 180 overdoses since opening in March and April this year, according to the report.

The sites reported 14,997 service visits from 711 unique individuals.

A safe injection site at the Boyle McCauley Health Centre is expected to provide services by the end of the month, pending a Health Canada inspection. Another site at the Royal Alexandra is for patients only.

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Edmonton Fire Rescue Services has administered naloxone, a common emergency overdose treatment, at least84times this year. Firefighters started training to use naloxone in February last year and administered it more than 100 times by the end of 2017.

The report also notes the implementation of a province-wide naloxone distribution program.

The Minister's Opioid Emergency Response Commission, formed in 2017, has helped establish more than 487 distribution sites in Edmonton. More than 22,500 naloxone kits had been distributed at pharmacies, post-secondary campuses and community agencies in the city as of the end of June.

The commission is also looking to expand agonist treatment such as methadone at the Royal Alexandra Hospital, University of Alberta Hospital and at the Strathcona Community Hospital in Sherwood Park.

The last opioid crisis update was delivered to the community and public services committee in April.