Alberta opioid deaths continue to decline from record high last year

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Opioid deaths in Alberta continue to drop from their peak last year, according to the latest provincial statistics.

In September, 69 opioid deaths were reported, compared to 146 deaths in September 2023.

This represents the eighth consecutive month-over-month decrease. The Alberta substance use surveillance system, shows a 38 per cent drop in opioid-related fatalities during the first nine months of this year, down to 886 from 1,430 during the same period last year.

The numbers are preliminary, however, and likely to change. It can take six months or longer for the medical examiner to determine a cause of death due to backlogs.