An epidemic of fatal drug overdoses across Canada is on the rise amid COVID-19 pandemic restrictions that harm-reduction workers and doctors say exacerbates the toxic supply. Overdose prevention sites continue to run but physical distancing guidelines mean fewer people are able to use the services. Nick Boyce says front-line workers report overdose deaths are going up across Ontario and a safer drug supply would help reduce the problem. British Columbia saw a 39 per cent jump in overdose deaths in April compared to the same month last year. And in Alberta during the pandemic, the number of opioid-related calls to EMS increased from 257 in March to 550 this May.

Source: CBC News June 10, 2020 07:52 UTC