Overdose deaths up since the start of the pandemic

Overdose-related deaths are up in the North Bay Parry Sound Health Unit’s coverage area since the start of COVID-19.

Officials tell BayToday there have been 16 confirmed and one probable death between January and May 2020.

That’s up from eight opioid-related deaths in the same time frame last year.

In a release, the Health Unit says in 2018, there were 99 opioid-related emergency department visits and 14 deaths related to opioid use, among Nipissing and Parry Sound residents.

In 2019, this increased to 138 opioid-related emergency department visits and 18 deaths among the same geographical area.

As a response to the increase in the number of opioid-related emergency room visits, an online overdose reporting system was developed in May of 2019.

268 overdoses were reported between May of 2019 and May of 2020.

Approximately 76 per cent of individuals reporting an overdose indicated that 911 was called.

Overdoses are often not reported due to various reasons, including fear of stigma, legal repercussions and a lack of knowledge of the Good Samaritan Drug Overdose Act.

For more information on International Overdose Awareness Day, visit www.myhealthunit.ca/overdoseawareness.

(File photo by station staff)