The COVID-19 pandemic presented challenges on many levels for residents in the region.
It’s been well publicized how people have been impacted financially, mentally and emotionally.
When it comes to drug-related issues, which have been a hot-button topic in both the region and the city, the proof is in the numbers. For opioid related deaths, both confirmed and probable, those numbers come form the Office of the Chief Coroner.
And they’re not promising.
In 2018 there were 64 opioid related deaths reported by Region of Waterloo Public Health, 24 of which happened in Cambridge.
The following year, the total number stayed steady, while the Cambridge saw a decrease in deaths to 15.
But then the pandemic struck, and it took it’s toll. The number of opioid related deaths soared to 107. Cambridge accounted for 27 of them. Of those 107, 90 came between the months of March and December 2020.
Flip the calendar to 2021, and the concerning trend continued. Deaths increased to 113 in the region and 32 within the city.
Numbers for 2022 have only be released for January to June, with 47 deaths being recorded and 13 in Cambridge.
Province wide, those aged 30 to 59 remain the most impacted and three out of every four deaths have been males since the beginning of the pandemic.
In the first six months of 2022 there have been 1,278 deaths in Ontario.
The numbers are sure to stoke further conversations about the importance of the consumption and treatment site planned for 150 Main St.
The latest update CambridgeToday received from the AIDS Committee of Cambridge, Kitchener, Waterloo and Area, which is overseeing the application, was back in October and stated they’re still in the data gathering phase.
Council had initially voted to approve the CTS in downtown Galt back in Oct. of 2021.
Region of Waterloo Public Health encompasses Cambridge, Kitchener, Waterloo, and the townships of North Dumfries, Wellesley, Wilmot and Woolwich.
