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» Go to news mainMedia opportunity: Dalhousie University research tracks drop in fatal opioid overdoses in Nova Scotia early in pandemic, followed by steady increase in deaths linked to illicit drugs
The rate of fatal opioid overdoses in Nova Scotia declined in the early years of the COVID-19 pandemic, but rose again after 2021 due largely to deaths linked to non-pharmaceutical opioids, according to new findings by Dalhousie University researchers.
The study looked at trends in opioid toxicity mortality in the province's four health zones from 2009 to 2023, focusing on differences between pharmaceutical and non-pharmaceutical or illicit opioid-related deaths.
Pharmaceutical opioids are prescribed for pain relief, and deaths often result from misuse, dependence or accidental overdose. Illicit opioids are unregulated and include fentanyl and its analogues, which are often mixed with other substances.
The researchers conducted a population-based study using data on annual opioid toxicity mortality rates, arranged by health zone and opioid type. They found that opioid toxicity deaths decreased from 2019 to 2021 and then returned to or slightly exceeded pre-pandemic level after 2021, with post-2021 increases largely reflecting a rise in illicit opioid deaths.
Dr. Cindy Feng, an associate professor, and Dr. Mark Asbridge, a professor, in Dalhousie's Department of Community Health and Epidemiology, co-authored a paper outlining the findings, which suggest that illicit opioids are becoming a growing contributor to deaths in Nova Scotia, though the province still records proportionally more pharmaceutical-related fatalities than most others.
The study examined regional breakdowns and found:
* Central Zone: rising illicit opioid deaths post-pandemic
* Eastern Zone: previously high pharmaceutical opioid deaths declined in 2020-2021 and then rose slightly
* Northern Zone: steep rise in illicit opioid deaths
* Western Zone: consistently lowest rates
Dr. Feng and Dr. Asbridge are available to discuss the study and how it provides valuable insights into opioid toxicity mortality and prescribing trends across Nova Scotia, highlighting distinct geographic patterns before, during and after the pandemic.
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Media contact:
Alison Auld
Senior Research Reporter
Dalhousie University
Cell: 1-902-220-0491
Email: alison.auld@dal.ca
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