New data confirms need for opioid treatment options in the north

Recently released data on opioids deaths in the province shows the dire situation in Northern Ontario.

Northern Ontario health units make up the entire top three per 100,000 people.

"It's not earth shattering news to me," said Dr. Robert Maloney.

Dr. Maloney works with the Sault Area Hospital's Addiction Medicine Consult Team.

He sees the findings of the Ontario Coroner's latest data on a day-to-day basis.

“It does reflect I think the vulnerability of smaller cities in general, but smaller cities in the north.”

Public Health Sudbury has the second highest opioid death rate in the province over the first quarter of 2022, with 57.9 per 100,000.

The Algoma District wasn't far behind, with 52 deaths per 100,000

The pandemic only made the opioid crisis worse.

Opioids killed 2790 Ontario from April of 2021 to March 2022.

Up slightly from the same time period the year prior: 2727 deaths.

Both huge jumps from the 1559 in 2019.

“The stress of not being able to see your healthcare providers or service providers. What does that do to someone who is already struggling? They may turn more to substances to cope,” Sherry Price, Sudbury Public Health's Manager of Mental Health, said.

Both Price, and Dr. Maloney believe a supervised consumption site in Sault Ste. Marie is needed now more than ever.

“It not only simply just keeps people alive, but it gives those people who are most at risk an opportunity to change courses,” Dr. Maloney said.

One Sault organization is looking to bring a supervised consumption site to the city.

The two again agree that more needs to be done to curb the number of people addicted to opioids, even if the site is built.