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Alberta still seeing high number of opioid deaths

Aug 17, 2017 | 7:34 AM

CALGARY – The province continues to see high numbers of overdose deaths related to fentanyl and other opioids.

A second-quarter report for 2017 shows that 119 people died from an apparent fentanyl-related overdose between April 1 and June 30.

Another 122 people died in the first three months of the year from an apparent fentanyl overdose.

Another 33 people died during that time from an apparent drug overdose of an opioid other than fentanyl.

The province says it will provide $1.2 million for renovations at Calgary’s Sheldon M. Chumir Health Centre, which is a proposed site for supervised opioid consumption.

Health Canada is currently reviewing several safe consumption sites proposed by the province for Calgary, Edmonton and Lethbridge.

Liberal MLA Doctor David Swann is questioning why it’s taking so long for safe drug-injection site proposals to be reviewed.

Swann has repeatedly called on the province to declare a state of emergency over the opioid crisis and he says it’s time action was taken.

(The Canadian Press)