Drug poisoning deaths down in Alberta compared to 2021, proportion of opioid deaths up

The ministry of mental health and addictions is 'cautiously optimistic' Alberta is past its peak in drug poisoning deaths.

Drug poisoning deaths in Alberta have once again surpassed the 1,300 mark for a third year in a row.

Data updated this month from the Alberta substance use surveillance system show there were 1,443 drug poisoning deaths in the province from January to November 2022, 1,347 of which were caused by opioids.

“While each life lost to addiction is one too many, we are cautiously optimistic about the continued downward trend since the peak in late 2021,” Colin Aitchison, press secretary for Minister of Mental Health and Addictions Nicholas Milliken, said in a statement.

In November 2022, 123 drug poisoning deaths were tallied, 121 of which were opioid-related. That’s down from November 2021’s 191 and 173, respectively.

“Additionally, hospitalizations and emergency department visits related to opioid addiction are at their lowest point since the start of the pandemic, and have decreased 39 per cent and 40 per cent respectively since peaking in late 2021,” Aitchison said.

“Our government will continue to improve access to addiction treatment and recovery supports by building recovery-oriented systems of care to save more lives and drive deaths down further.

Last year’s 11-month total surpasses the 2020 total of 1,387 drug poisoning deaths and 1,184 opioid-related deaths, but short of 2021’s record deaths of 1,842 and 1,621, respectively.

But a year-over-year trend has appeared: a larger proportion of the drug poisonings have been by opioids.