Opioid-related deaths in Hamilton have soared more than 80 per cent in one year.

From January to October, 75 Hamilton residents died from an opioid overdose in 2017 compared to 41 during the same period the year before.

"Opioids are continuing to have a devastating impact on individuals, families, and the community," Hamilton's medical officer of health Dr. Elizabeth Richardson said in a statement Friday. "The sustained trend of rising opioid related deaths, which are preventable, in Hamilton is very concerning."

Overdose deaths are rising at a much higher rate in Hamilton shows data released Wednesday by the Office of the Chief Coroner of Ontario. Provincewide, the increase is just over 50 per cent.

"To stem the tide of rising deaths, it is crucial that we continue to challenge ourselves ... to strengthen our response, deepen our collaboration, and push ourselves to work together differently," Richardson said about all agencies involved.

Hamilton's opioid-related death rate of 13.2 per 100,000 population is now nearly double the province's 7.4

"As we learn more about the opioid crisis, we continue to enhance our response," Dr. David Williams, Ontario's chief medical officer of health said in a statement Wednesday. "By monitoring the data, we are able to modify our strategy and put our resources where they will help the most people across the province."

Provincewide, 1,053 Ontarians died from an opioid overdose from January to October, compared to 694 in the same period in 2016.

The surge in numbers prompted the Ministry of Health to expand addiction and harm-reduction services across the province, including extra resources in Hamilton for Good Shepherd Centres, Hamilton Health Sciences, the city's Alcohol, Drug, and Gambling Services, Mission Services of Hamilton, St. Joseph's Healthcare and The AIDS Network.

"These numbers are a stark reminder of why we are putting so much effort into addressing the opioid crisis on all fronts," Ontario Health Minister Dr. Helena Jaczek said in a statement Wednesday. "We are working to save lives, both now and in the long-term, and to help all people in Ontario affected by this tragedy."

In addition, nasal spray naloxone kits will be now be available for free at some pharmacies.

"Public Health Services encourages people to ... seek out Naloxone for themselves and their friends and family members at risk," Richardson said. "Our harm-reduction staff are working to add more locations in the community where that is available."

So far, public health has distributed 298 naloxone kits in 2017 that have been used to save 78 lives. The AIDS Network is in the process of submitting applications to the provincial and federal governments for a permanent supervised injection site as well as a temporary overdose prevention site that would act as a stopgap until the long-term site opens. Both would be located at the network's Effort Square location at 140 King St. E.

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The data released Wednesday shows the opioid crisis is only getting worse with emergency department visits related to overdoses up by 72 per cent in Ontario in 2017 compared to 2016.