New statistics from the GNWT Department of Health and Social Services indicate one person died from an opioid overdose in the territory in 2017, a decrease from 2016.
Five people died of opioid overdoses in 2016.
The single death suggests the rate of overdoses in the territory are at 2.2 deaths per 100,000 people.
According to numbers from the GNWT Department of Health and Social Services, between 2015 and March of last year 59 northerners were hospitalized due to opioids.
During that span the NWT saw 83 visits to the emergency room due to opioids.
DHSS disclosed the information Tuesday after federal statistics showed 3,987 Canadians died from overdoses in 2017, 34 per cent higher than the previous year.