The Chief Medical Examiner’s Office has released more detailed information on a spike in sudden drug toxicity deaths in the province over the last two months.

Chief Medical Examiner Dr. Nash Denic confirmed eleven presumed drug toxicity deaths in July. Of those cases, nine were confirmed positive for cocaine, or cocaine metabolite, a main compound in cocaine.

Two of those deaths were caused by cocaine only, three were cocaine and an opioid other than fentanyl, and one was cocaine with fentanyl. Three deaths were ruled as natural or not related to drugs, but two of those three deaths did show signs of previous cocaine use.

Out of the 11 cases:

– 2 cases are cocaine-only related deaths
– 3 cases are cocaine-with-opioid (other than fentanyl) related deaths
– 1 case of cocaine-with-fentanyl related death
– 1 case where cause of death is due to use of stimulants other than cocaine
– 1 case where cause of death is due to an opioid other than fentanyl
– 3 deaths are ruled natural or accidental (ie: not drug related). In these 3 deaths, 2 had evidence of previous cocaine use.

In the meantime, the latest statistics for 2023 released by the Chief Medical Examiner’s office show a total of 17 sudden deaths where cocaine was the cause of death up to September 21. No fentanyl was detected in 13 of those 17 cocaine-related deaths. Fentanyl was detected in six drug-toxicity deaths up to that date. Of those six, cocaine and fentanyl were detected in four, and no cocaine was detected in two.