Alberta sees lowest opioid deaths since 2019, but varying drug supplies across municipalities remain top concern
Alberta had the lowest opioid-related deaths in 2024 since pre-pandemic times, but experts warn it will be difficult to say whether or not the numbers will continue to trend downwards, given the toxic drug supply and ongoing response.
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According to the latest data, in 2024, Alberta recorded 1,182 opioid-related deaths, a significant drop from the 1,873 deaths in 2023 — a record-breaking year for the province. While the decrease in deaths is significant, Edmonton has remained the top city, with nearly double the number of opioid deaths compared to Calgary.
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Monty Ghosh, an associate professor at the University of Alberta and an addictions physician, said that throughout 2024, Alberta, like the rest of Canada, has seen a significant decrease in opioid deaths.
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'It's definitely positive,' Ghosh said. 'But in all likelihood, there (are) a multitude of effects that are causing this to happen. It would be very difficult to pinpoint exactly what is causing this drop in deaths.'
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Changes to drug toxicity, which vary significantly across jurisdictions, may or may not be stabilizing, which could be contributing to the downward trend, according to Ghosh. He said another potential factor is 'morality saturation,' where people who are most susceptible to death have died, and there is no longer any movement that can happen.
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Ghosh added that regardless of the party, provinces and territories across Canada have invested significantly in the mental health and addiction sector compared to previous years, which has added to the diverse supports available to Canadians.
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Safe consumption sites needed
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Emergency Medical Services (EMS) responded to 6,381 opioid-related calls in 2024, nearly a 40 per cent decrease from 2023. Edmonton made up over half of those calls with 3,544.
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More people may be using substances in public or with other people around, which could allow for EMS to be called, or someone there could help the individual if they were to overdose, Ghosh said.
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Anecdotally, Ghosh says he's heard of people smoking substances outside of safe consumption sites, so if something happens, someone will be there to respond to them. He said there needs to be safe consumption sites, and without them, he worries the province may see a spike in overdoses.
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'My worry is that if they don't continue to support these services, we'll see a spike in overdoses but also a decrease in people wanting and seeking recovery,' Ghosh said.
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'These are great access points to recovery, which is not being fully patented or utilized.'
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