Fentanyl-related opioid deaths have hit record highs in New Brunswick, according to the Department of Health.
New data from the department’s latest report shows there were 72 apparent opioid toxicity deaths in 2023.
Seventy-one of those deaths were accidental or with pending intent, including 38 related to fentanyl or fentanyl analogues.
“This is the largest proportion of fentanyl toxicity deaths to date at 54% of accidental or pending intent opioid-related deaths in 2023,” said the report.
The year before, there were 77 apparent opioid toxicity deaths, including 68 that were accidental or with pending intent.
Officials said 27 of those deaths, or 40 per cent, were related to fentanyl or fentanyl analogues — the second largest proportion to date.
Men and those between the ages of 40 and 49 represented most of the apparent opioid toxicity deaths classified as accidental or with pending intent in 2023.
Thirty-five individuals consumed opioids from an illicit source, 13 consumed prescribed opioids, and 22 consumed opioids from an unknown source.
Along with the increase in apparent fentanyl toxicity deaths, data from coroner investigations show there were more “novel substances” detected compared to previous years.
Officials reported 102 opioid-related poisoning hospitalizations in 2023, which is less than in 2022. More than half were classified as accidental, 21 per cent as intentional, and 27 per cent as undetermined.
New Brunswick is also seeing record numbers of people responding to naloxone administered by Ambulance New Brunswick.
Paramedics administered the medication to 689 suspected opioid overdose patients, and 51 per cent of them responded to it.
Nearly 3,000 take-home naloxone kits were distributed by non-governmental organizations in 2023, accounting for nearly half of the more than 6,400 kits handed out since 2018.
Officials said while naloxone may help mitigate the harm from opioid overdoses, it may not be sufficient to combat the “increasingly toxic drug supply” and will have no effect against substances such as stimulants or benzodiazepine.
“At this time, New Brunswick continues to trend towards, but remains below, the national average rate of various substance-related harms; continued vigilance and surveillance remains warranted,” said the report.
