Some general statistics from the last year see that 7,500 people were enrolled in some form of opioid dependency program in 2023. These individuals  are trying to deal with their problem medically, getting off killer street drugs and using substances like methadone or suboxone to help them while they heal.

In Lethbridge however, nearly 140 individuals have died from opioid use. Nearly 90 per cent of those were found to have fentanyl, methamphetamine, or carfentanil in their bloodstreams, and many had some combination of those three.

In comparison to previous years, 32 died from opioids in 2018 and 48 died in 2020.

Since 2016, more than 7,000 people have died in Alberta from opioid overdoses. Those who are at highest risk of dying an opioid-related death are 68 per cent male. The majority of deaths occur in public places or in private residences. The average age of those who die is between 25-44, with the peak being ages 35-39.