Opioid deaths skyrocket, mental health suffers due to pandemic restrictions, [Canadian] federal report says
Canada is still in the grips of an opioid crisis — a crisis that is now much worse than it was just a year ago.
In B.C., there were more than 100 “illicit drug toxicity” deaths per month for six consecutive months from March to August 2020, and more than 175 such deaths each month in May, June and July, according to data compiled by PHAC. B.C.’s highest monthly opioid death toll, in June 2020, was 181, up from 76 in June 2019. First Nations people account for a disproportionate number of these deaths — they were nearly six times more likely to die from an overdose than other B.C. residents. In July, B.C. paramedics responded to a record high number of overdose calls — a 75 per cent spike in calls compared to the same month last year. Paramedics in B.C. also responded that month to an average of 87 overdose calls a day, or 2,706 calls in total.
Original Article (CBC.ca):
Opioid deaths skyrocket, mental health suffers due to pandemic restrictions, new federal report says
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