The Record: Drug crimes surge as overdoses rise and Waterloo Regional Police warn they can’t keep up

WATERLOO REGION — Crimes for possessing and selling illicit drugs such as fentanyl are surging in this part of Ontario as overdose deaths also rise.

“We’re a bit of a hub for trafficking,” said Michael Parkinson, a drug strategy specialist with a community council that aims to prevent crime in Waterloo Region. “There are a lot of people using unregulated opioids in this area.”

New crime data shows Guelph ranks fourth, Waterloo Region ranks sixth, and Brantford ranks ninth in the nation for opioid-related crime rates in 2020. That’s among 32 large urban areas according to a recent report by Statistics Canada.

Opioid-related overdose deaths rose to 102 in this region in 2020, up from 62 deaths in 2019. Overdose deaths are keeping pace this year with another 66 reported by Sept. 10.

Fentanyl is a synthetic drug prescribed for pain medication that is also made and used illegally. It is far more potent than morphine.

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