Yukon now has the highest rate of deaths due to opioids in the country, at 48.4 deaths per 100,000 people, according to Heather Jones, chief coroner for the territory. Yukon has recorded 21 deaths due to opioids since the start of the year.
“For this office, and most certainly all of us, this is shocking,” Jones said Monday. “This must be seen as a medical crisis. These deaths for the most part are people who are dying alone in their homes.”
Jones said country-wide, Canada has a rate of 19.4 deaths from opioids per 100,000 people, based on national data compiled from chief coroner
This story was originally published on CBC News. To read the rest of this news worthy story, please visit https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/north/yukon-opioid-death-crisis-highest-rate-canada-1.6266866?cmp=rss.