Infections could be spread through crack cocaine users sharing pipes. (ID 52820077 © Esben Hansen | Dreamstime.com)

By Derek Cornet

health

Crack cocaine users among those affected by severe rise in pneumonia

Feb 6, 2025 | 4:38 PM

A La Ronge doctor is warning the public about a recent severe rise of pneumonia in the community over the last few weeks.

According to Dr. Daniel Irvine, there has been an increase in a number of different types of infections primarily caused by the bacteria strep pneumonia. The most common type of infection is pneumonia, followed by meningitis and blood-borne infections.

“We all have strep bacteria, including strep pneumonia on our bodies,” he explained.

“Every once in a while, there gets to be a more invasive strain of strep pneumonia and it causes more severe infections. There are significant risk factors with people who are elderly, have compromised conditions or diabetes and, especially in this circumstance, people who are using crack cocaine seem to be hardest hit. By not all means is everyone using crack cocaine, but we are seeing people who use crack cocaine way more than we would expect to see them for otherwise generally young people having pneumonia, which is usually quite rare.”

While doctors are still looking to determine why crack cocaine users are among those being hit hard, Irvine noted the bacteria is likely being passed person-to-person via shared items such as pipes.

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In recent weeks, there has been a rise in the number of younger people passing away and Irvine stated strep pneumonia bacteria could very well be related to it. When people die out of hospital, Irvine said it’s difficult to determine that connection until coroners conclude their investigations in which there are several investigations ongoing at the moment.

As for a potential rise in overdoses in the community, he said there hasn’t been a obvious rise in overdoses in the emergency department.

“I have seen those community discussions, but we are not seeing it in hospital,” Irvine remarked.

“That could mean people are using things like naloxone and treating it out of hospital and not coming in. That could mean they are having significant effects of the drugs they are using, but aren’t needing to come to hospital for it. Also, it is possible a death out of hospital can be related to overdose as well, but all of that is uncertain, including people’s drug use, underlying health disorders and their cause of death until the coroner has done their investigation.”

Irvine wanted the public to know there is a vaccine available for strep pneumonia for children, as well as those over 65 years old, those who have chronic conditions such as HIV, diabetes or heart disease, and in some cases those who have substance abuse issues.

He also mentioned the Jeannie Bird Clinic does have clean pipes to distribute to all members of the community whether they are Lac La Ronge Indian Band members or not.

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derek.cornet@pattisonmedia.com