(Trevor Pritchard/CBC - image credit)The Algonquins of Pikwakanagan First Nation has declared a state of emergency over the opioid crisis as overdoses and deaths continue to devastate the community. Pikwàkanagàn is located in Renfrew County, about 150 kilometres west of Ottawa. "We're dealing with prevention issues, treatment issues, after-care issues but also enforcement issues," he said. According to Ottawa Public Health's Stop Overdose webpage, July 2023 saw the highest number of confirmed opioid overdose visits to emergency departments within the past three years. Story continuesOttawa saw 93 confirmed opioid-related deaths in the first half of 2023, the most recent statistics available.

Source: CBC News December 08, 2023 09:51 UTC