Opioid overdose deaths in the Yukon on the rise – APTN News

14 people have died this year in the Yukon from the illicit use of opioids says territorial chief coroner

The Yukon is reporting alarming statistics regarding the territory’s opioid crisis.

Yesterday Yukon’s chief coroner Heather Jones released a report stating there have been 14 overdose deaths in the territory since Jan. 1 of this year. The report notes that number is double the number of deaths that was reported at the end of April.

All of the 14 deaths “involved opioids in various formats of fentanyl and in combination with other illicit drugs and/or alcohol,” the report states.

In 2019 there were four reported opioid overdose deaths which jumped to 10 in 2020. The report states 2021 is already showing a 40 per cent increase over the 2020 total and that number is expected to grow before the year ends.

Read More: https://www.aptnnews.ca/national-news/opioid-overdose-deaths-in-the-yukon-on-the-rise/