The Saskatchewan Coroner’s Service (SCS) has recorded nearly 300 aggregate deaths across the province this year due to drug overdoses, with Moose Jaw seeing the fourth-highest number of opioid-related deaths.
From Jan. 1 to Aug. 1, the SCS recorded 92 confirmed deaths related to drug toxicity and 199 suspected drug toxicity deaths, a total of 291 opioid-related losses of life.
In comparison, during the same period last year, the SCS recorded 337 drug-related deaths, 403 in 2021, 324 in 2020, 180 in 2019, 172 in 2018, 119 in 2017 and 109 in 2016.
The SCS determined that the following opioid drugs likely killed 162 people year-to-date: codeine (one), fentanyl (58), hydromorphone (five), methadone (12), morphine (two), carfentanyl (five), acetyl fentanyl (38) and para-fluoro fentanyl (41).
Furthermore, the provincial agency found that 18 women — eight Caucasian, nine First Nation, and one Metis — and 51 men — 26 Caucasian, 21 First Nation, two Metis and two unknown races — died accidentally of drug toxicity for a total confirmed 69 losses.
Meanwhile, the SCS confirmed that 58 people died accidentally from fentanyl overdoses.
Carfentanil is an extremely potent opioid analgesic used to anesthetize large animals and as a recreational drug. It has similar effects to other opioids but can be reversed by naloxone and naltrexone.
Acetyl fentanyl is an opioid analgesic drug that is comparable to fentanyl. Studies have estimated that acetyl fentanyl is 15 times more potent than morphine, which means that despite being somewhat weaker than fentanyl, it is still several times stronger than pure heroin.
Para-fluoro fentanyl is an opioid analgesic analogue of fentanyl developed by Janssen Pharmaceuticals in the 1960s. It is similar to fentanyl in structure and effects but has a different synthesis route and is illegal in many countries.
Of the 92 confirmed opioid overdose deaths, Regina had the highest at 31, followed by Saskatoon with 29, Lloydminster with six, Moose Jaw with four, the Ahtahkakoop reserve with two, and 20 communities with one.
Moose Jaw’s total deaths due to drug overdoses — confirmed and suspected — was seven, including three for fentanyl, two to acetyl fentanyl and two to para-fluoro fentanyl.
Last year, Moose Jaw saw three deaths due to fentanyl, three losses to acetyl fentanyl and two to para-fluoro fentanyl. Those eight total deaths placed Moose Jaw fifth in the province.
Meanwhile, Canada’s Most Notorious City was tied for eighth in 2021 with three deaths and tied for fifth in 2020 with seven deaths.
The Saskatchewan Coroner’s Service also noted that there have been 54 confirmed provincial deaths where methamphetamine toxicity was part of the cause. This included 14 instances where meth was the sole cause of death and 40 cases where meth was one of several drugs identified as the cause of death.
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