By Liam Verster

Opioid Fatalities

Four opioid deaths confirmed in Grande Prairie in April

Jun 21, 2021 | 11:15 AM

New figures from Alberta Health show that in April of 2021, there were four acute substance deaths in Grande Prairie, all of which were linked to non-pharmaceutical opioids.

The figures, which have been certified by the medical examiner, show that in the first four months of 2021, there have been 18 drug poisoning deaths in Grande Prairie, 17 of which have been linked to opioids.

The four deaths in April translate to a ratio of 62.7 per 100,000 people, the highest in the province. The second-highest ratio for April was Red Deer at 42.9 per 100k, then Edmonton at 42.2 per 100k.

Grande Prairie’s ratio in April was also higher than the provincial average of 27.4 opioid deaths per 100,000 people.

Province-wide, there were 109 substance-related deaths in April, 103 of which were opioid-related. Opioids have now been linked to 454 deaths in Alberta during the first four months of 2021.