How Has the Pandemic Affected Opioid Overdoses?

Isolation and curfew measures have notably led to our population struggling with mental health, but is there another epidemic looming as the pandemic continues?

In 2017, Canada saw a surge in opioid-related deaths. British Columbia, deemed ground zero for opioid related overdoses, faced a higher amount of overdoses for the first half of 2017 than the total number of deaths in 2016.

In this episode of Local 514, we’ll be looking into the rise in opioid related overdoses during the pandemic and what needs to be done to curb the increase.   Watch the full episode to understand more about the opioid crisis and to hear from our guests Alexane Langevin, the Drug Checking Service Coordinator at GRIP Montreal, Shavonne, a street worker, from Head and Hands (Street workers go on a first name basis for privacy and safety reasons) and to learn how to administer the injectable version of naloxone.

Last year opioid related overdoses doubled in Canada compared to 2019. British Columbia, Alberta and Ontario were hit the hardest. Montreal faced a 50% increase in opioid deaths.

To understand the numbers more, here’s a breakdown of statistics by province from 2019 to 2020.

• Ontario recorded the most new deaths of any province (2,316 in 2020, 1,397 in 2019)
• In British Columbia there were 1,671 deaths in 2020 and 963 in 2019.
• In Alberta there were 1,132 deaths in 2020 and 615 in 2019.
• In Quebec there were 547 deaths in 2020, 414 in 2019.
• In Ontario, British Columbia, Alberta and Quebec combined 82% of deaths involved fentanyl in males between 20-years-old to 49-years-old.

When we speak about harm reduction, it’s important to understand the drugs themselves.

So what is fentanyl? It is a powerful opioid used as a pain medication, sometimes used together with other medications for anesthesia. It is also used as a recreational drug, sometimes mixed with heroin, methamphetamine, or cocaine. Its potentially deadly overdose effects can be neutralized by naloxone. But is it the most deadly? No.

Less common, but still seen on the streets of Canada is Carfentanil – it gained prominence in 2017. Carfentanil is a structural analog of the synthetic opioid analgesic fentanyl. It is approximately 100 times more toxic than fentanyl and 10,000 times more toxic than morphine. Carfentanil can be deadly in extremely small amounts.

What are the signs of an OD? Cold, clammy skin. A limp body, seemingly deep in sleep. Slow breathing. A faltering or halted heartbeat. 

What should you do? Call 911 immediately. 

Someone should check the person’s breathing—if it’s slow or shallow, inject naloxone to regulate their breathing. If naloxone is not available, administer CPR to help the person breathe until first responders arrive. If the person’s breathing is compromised, a lack of oxygen can cause brain damage within minutes, so it’s vital to call first responders immediately.