Good morning, Mr. Chair and members of the Standing Committee on Health. Thank you for the opportunity to appear before you today to discuss the opioid epidemic and the challenges we face in London, Ontario, with respect to the safe supply program and its unintended consequences.
London has garnered significant attention in recent months regarding the safe supply program. While the program is well intentioned, we are seeing concerning outcomes related to the diversion of safe supply medications. The diversion of regulated medications, including hydromorphone, is a growing concern. These diverted drugs are being resold within our community, trafficked to other jurisdictions and even used as currency to obtain fentanyl, perpetuating the illegal drug trade. Specifically, we are seeing significant increases in the availability of diverted Dilaudid eight-milligram tablets, which are often prescribed as part of safe supply initiatives. Vulnerable individuals are being targeted by criminals who exchange these prescriptions for fentanyl, exacerbating addiction and community harm. This issue is not isolated to individuals experiencing substance use challenges. It also impacts the safety and well-being of our entire community.
The human cost of the opioid crisis is devastating. In 2019, 73 individuals in London lost their lives due to drug overdoses. That number spiked to 123 in 2020 and reached 142 in 2021. While fatalities have slightly declined since then to 123 in 2023, we remain far above prepandemic levels. Tragically, over 80% of opioid-related overdose deaths in London are linked to fentanyl.
Our enforcement data emphasizes the growing issue of diverted medications. Hydromorphone seizures have increased substantially over the past five years. In 2019, we seized 847 pills, 75 of which were eight-milligram Dilaudid. By 2023, seizures ballooned to over 30,000 pills, with nearly 50% being eight-milligram Dilaudid. These increases cannot be attributed to pharmacy thefts, as London has had only one pharmacy robbery since 2019. Our police service is working diligently to disrupt the trafficking of fentanyl and diverted safe supply medications. We are targeting individuals and organized crime groups that exploit vulnerable populations and fuel the drug trade.
However, enforcement alone is not sufficient. We are collaborating with community health partners to address the systemic issues contributing to diversion. These efforts must be holistic, integrating prevention, harm reduction and treatment. I'm not here to criticize the safe supply program but to address the serious challenges associated with its diversion. We need innovation to mitigate risks. We need robust enforcement to hold traffickers accountable. We need continued collaboration among health, social service and public safety sectors to effectively respond to this crisis. This is a complex issue requiring collective action. I want to acknowledge the challenging efforts of health and social service partners working on the front lines of prevention, harm reduction and treatment in response to this opioid crisis. However, it will require strong collaboration and strong enforcement to face this crisis.
Thank you for your time. I welcome your questions.