EDMONTON — A new report says the rising number of opioid overdoses in Alberta is disproportionately affecting Indigenous people, including more deaths and visits to emergency rooms. Alberta Health says Indigenous people have been dying from accidental opioid overdoses at a rate three times higher than non-Aboriginal people. Associate Health Minister Brandy Payne says the findings show more must be done to help Indigenous people deal with the opioid crisis. Almost half of Indigenous opioid deaths were in the Calgary region, a quarter were in greater Edmonton and the rest were spread around the province. Alberta is opening safe opioid consumption sites in Calgary, Edmonton and Lethbridge.

Source: National Post November 08, 2017 21:11 UTC