The number of Albertans dying from fentanyl overdoses continues to rise in 2017, nearly doubling the number of deaths the drug had caused in the same time period last year. From Jan. 1 to Feb. 11, 51 people died in Alberta as a result of a fentanyl overdose, according to a new report from Alberta Health. Karen Grimsrud, Alberta's chief medical officer of health, says the province's opioid report shows rise in deaths, despite efforts to save lives. (Travis McEwan)Overdose deaths caused by carfentanil, an opioid 100 times more potent than fentanyl, are also on the rise across the province. "Our medical examiner went back and looked at fentanyl-related deaths and has made a determination that there was actually 30 carfentanil deaths (in 2016)."

Source: CBC News April 08, 2017 01:07 UTC