The Deputy Minister of Health Transformation says the province is watching national and US opioid overdose statistics very closely.

The province saw a spike in sudden drug toxicity deaths over the summer, most of which were linked to cocaine use.

Newfoundland and Labrador saw a steady drop in life expectancy rates between 2019 and 2022 primarily due to COVID-19.

Dr. Pat Parfrey says while opioid-related deaths have had an impact on life-expectancy in the US and other parts of Canada, they haven’t seen an appreciable impact on life expectancy in this region to-date, but that could change.

“Those opioid deaths…are occurring more frequently out west in particular, and it seems that that issue is moving east” says Parfrey. “There’s no indication yet that that has influenced life expectancy here, however it’s a concern…that we be able to deal with that in an appropriate manner.”

Parfrey—one of the architects of the Health Accord—says the focus now is on ensuring that barriers to health care and social factors affecting health are addressed.