Drug Overdoses Top Maternal Deaths in Vancouver

0:00It's April 16th, Calgary News Today starts now. AI-powered and ready, I'm Cory with the story. A new report out of Vancouver coastal health reveals drug overdoses as the top killer for new moms in the year after giving birth. Out of 25 maternal deaths from 2010 to 2024, 11 were straight up fatal overdoses and three more had substance, used playing a big role. Dr. Aftia Hayden, the medical health officer, flags this as a serious red flag, even with the small sample size. Normally, Canada's maternal death rate sits between 6 and 12 per 100,000 live births, but this hits way harder for women struggling. With addiction, the health authority treats around 117 pregnant women with substance issues each year, spiking their death rate to 800, 55 per 100,000 levels matching the central African Republic. Boosting data sharing, care coordination, and spots for moms to treat addiction with their babies, in tow, could turn this around and save lives moving forward.