Fentanyl overdose: 131 people in northern Ontario killed since 2010

Fentanyloverdosehas killed 131 people in northern Ontario since 2010,according to new data from the Chief Coroner's Office obtained by CBC.

Fentanyl a powerful narcotic that can be50 to 80times morepowerful thanmorphineis nowthe number one cause of opioid-related death in Ontarioand killed nearly 200 people in 2015.

In northern Ontario, an additional 134 people have died of methadone overdose and another 122 overdoseson oxycodonein the last six years.

"The overall number of people dying has been increasing," saidDr. Reuven Jhirad, the deputy chief coroner for Ontario.

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"Fentanyl and opioids work as depressant to the respiratory system," Jhirad said.

"That in conjunction with other medications impair [a person's]ability to be conscious and breathe."

In northeastern Ontario,more people are dying from fentanyl overdose than any other opioid. In the northwest, methadone is the number one killer.

"There can be geographic variations to what medications are being used and what are being implemented in people's death,"Jhiradsaid.

"We can't assume that Ontario is a homogeneous population that has the same patterns of substance use."

Northeastern Ontario

Total killed by opioid use from2010-2015: 288

• 92 people killed by fentanyl
• 77 people killed by methadone
• 86 people killed by oxycodone

Northwestern Ontario

Total killed by opioid use in2010-2015: At least 142

• 39 people killed by fentanyl
• 57 people killed by methadone
• 36 people killed by oxycodone

'Difficult problem to solve'

The high rates of fentanyl death have beencalled a national 'disaster'by theCanadian Pharmacists Association.

A private members bill hoping to curbfentanylabuse in Ontariobrought forward byNipissingProgressive-Conservative MPP VicFedelibecame law late last year.

It requires peoplewho havefentanylprescriptionsto return their used patches before they can receive new ones, in an attempt to curb the sale of the patches on the black market.

"It's a difficult problem to solve,"Jhiradsaid.

"It's not simply that somebody is using. It's the reasons behind [it is] where that use comes from."