Published Wednesday, May 19, 2021 7:29PM EDT Toronto saw more than 500 opioid overdose deaths in 2020, a record number that the city s top public official said Wednesday is worrying. According to preliminary data from Ontario s coroner s office, 521 confirmed opioid overdose deaths were recorded in last year, a 78 per cent increase from 2019 and a 280 per cent increase from 2015. This is just yet another tragedy on top of the tragedies that we have suffered through COVID-19, Dr. Eileen de Villa, Toronto s medical officer of health, said in an interview with CP24. I cannot tell you enough how disheartened I am and how concerned I was to see the numbers in respect of opioid overdose-related deaths.
13 suspected overdose deaths reported in Toronto over 5 day period
by Kailie Annetts and News Staff
Posted May 8, 2021 3:47 pm EDT
A Toronto Public Health sign is seen at Dundas and Victoria streets on Aug. 21, 2017. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Cole Burston
Toronto paramedics responded to 13 suspected opioid overdose-related deaths between May 2 and 6, one of the worst clusters of overdoses since Toronto Public Health began collecting data in 2017.
Five of these fatal calls happened on Thursday, which is the highest daily number of fatal calls on record.
This comes as some supervised consumption services, including The Works, began reporting an increase in overdoses.
Toronto’s Drug Checking Services is continuing to find an increase in unexpected substances of concern within the unregulated drug supply.
Toronto had 13 suspected opioid overdose-related deaths over 5 days in May
Toronto paramedics say they attended one of the worst clusters of suspected opioid overdose-related calls this week, with 13 deaths reported within five days.
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CBC News ·
Posted: May 08, 2021 4:41 PM ET | Last Updated: May 8
On May 6 alone, paramedics responded to five fatal suspected opioid overdose-related calls, a new daily record since the city began monitoring the data in 2017. (David Donnelly/CBC)
Toronto paramedics say they attended one of the worst clusters of suspected opioid overdose-related calls this week, with 13 deaths reported within five days.
Paramedics received the calls between May 2 and May 6, according to a drug alert issued by Toronto Public Health (TPH) on Friday.