Opioid- and Stimulant-related Harms in Canada Published: (December 2022): Health Infobase
Context
Canada has seen significantly elevated numbers of opioid-related deaths and other harms since surveillance began in 2016. This public health crisis is having a tragic impact on people who use substances, their families, and communities across the country, and is shaped by a wide range of factors. There is evidence the COVID-19 pandemic has contributed to and exacerbated the crisis, with several jurisdictions reporting higher rates of fatal overdoses and other harms following the onset of the pandemic.
Presented here are the most recent available data on overdoses and deaths involving opioids and/or stimulants from January 2016 to June 2022 in Canada, where available. Recognizing that harms related to opioids, stimulants, and other substances extend beyond overdoses (poisonings) and deaths, we continue to work with federal, provincial and territorial partners to build a broad understanding of harms and substances involved to better respond to this public health crisis. Additional studies can also help us plan and tailor actions to achieve better possible outcomes. Dr. Theresa Tam, Canada's Chief Public Health Officer, and Dr. Yves Léger, the Acting Chief Medical Officer of Health of New Brunswick, share their perspectives on these data, the overdose crisis and actions needed to prevent further substance-related harms in Canada in this joint statement.
Deaths Download mortality report in .pdf format
What: There was a total of 32,632 apparent opioid toxicity deaths between January 2016 and June 2022Footnote 1Footnote 2
- A total of 3,556 apparent opioid toxicity deaths occurred so far in 2022 (January – June). This is approximately 20 deaths per day. For a similar timeframe in the years prior to the pandemic, there were between 8 (in 2016) and 12 (in 2018) deaths per day.
- The number of apparent opioid toxicity deaths in Canada reported in the second quarter of 2022 (April – June) is lower than those reported for other quarters from April 2020 – March 2022. This may reflect recent gaps in reporting; additional data are needed to determine whether this will be sustained.
Where: A majority of deaths occurred in British Columbia, Alberta, and Ontario; high rates were also observed within other regions
- So far in 2022 (January – June), most (90%) of all accidental apparent opioid toxicity deaths in Canada occurred in British Columbia, Alberta, or Ontario.
- Elevated mortality rates have also been observed in other areas with smaller population sizes, including Yukon.
Who: Most apparent opioid toxicity deaths among young- to middle-aged males
- Males accounted for the majority of accidental apparent opioid toxicity deaths (76%) so far in 2022 (January – June).
- For males and for females, the majority of accidental apparent opioid toxicity deaths were among individuals aged 20 to 59 years.
Why: Toxicity of supply continues to be a major driver of the crisis
- Of all accidental apparent opioid toxicity deaths so far in 2022 (January – June), 76% involved fentanyl.
- Of all accidental apparent opioid toxicity deaths so far in 2022 (January – June), 79% involved opioids that were only non-pharmaceuticalFootnote 3Footnote 4.
Data on the polysubstance nature of the overdose crisis
- Available information from seven provinces and territories indicates the number of apparent stimulant toxicity deaths so far in 2022 (January – June) was high. Almost all (98%) of those deaths were accidental.
- Just under half (47%) of accidental apparent opioid toxicity deaths so far in 2022 (January – June) also involved a stimulant, reflecting the polysubstance nature of this crisis.
- Of the accidental apparent stimulant toxicity deaths so far in 2022 (January – June), 64% involved cocaine, while 51% involved methamphetamines.
- Of the accidental apparent stimulant toxicity deaths so far in 2022 (January – June), 83% involved an opioid.
Data on apparent opioid and stimulant toxicity deaths are not mutually exclusive. A high proportion of deaths involving a stimulant also involved an opioid. Adding up those numbers would result in an overestimation of the burden of opioids and stimulants.
Hospitalizations Download hospitalizations report in .pdf format
What: There was a total of 33,493 opioid-related and 14,606 stimulant-related poisoning hospitalizations from January 2016 to June 2022 in Canada (excluding Quebec)
- A total of 2,524 opioid-related poisoning hospitalizations occurred so far in 2022 (January – June). This is 14 hospitalizations per day. For a similar timeframe in the years prior to the pandemic, there were between 13 (2016) and 14 (2018) hospitalizations per day.
- A total of 994 stimulant-related poisoning hospitalizations occurred so far in 2022 (January – June). This is approximately five hospitalizations per day. For a similar timeframe in the years prior to the pandemic, there were between five (2016) and six (2019) hospitalizations per day.
- Median total length of hospital stay was three days for both opioid- and stimulant-related poisoning hospitalizations so far in 2022 (January – June).
- Of all opioid-related poisoning hospitalizations, 30% involved fentanyl or fentanyl analogues so far in 2022 (January - June). Among accidental opioid-related poisoning hospitalizations, a larger proportion involved fentanyl (32%) than among intentional poisonings (19%) so far in 2022 (January - June).
Data on opioid- and stimulant-related poisoning hospitalizations are not mutually exclusive. A high proportion of poisoning hospitalizations involving a stimulant also involved an opioid. Adding up those numbers would result in an overestimation of the burden of opioids and stimulants.
Where: A majority of hospitalizations occurred in British Columbia, Alberta and Ontario
- Rates of opioid- related poisoning hospitalizations continue to remain highest in British Columbia, Alberta and Saskatchewan while for stimulant-related poisoning hospitalizations the highest rates were observed in British Columbia, Saskatchewan, Alberta, Newfoundland and Labrador and the Territories.
- So far in 2022 (January – June), 88% of poisoning hospitalizations involving opioids and 85% of poisoning hospitalizations involving stimulants occurred in British Columbia, Alberta, and Ontario.
Who: Most accidental poisoning hospitalizations among males and individuals aged 20 to 49 years
- Most accidental opioid-related poisoning hospitalizations occurred among males (65%) and among individuals aged 20 to 49 years (54%) so far in 2022 (January – June).
- Most accidental stimulant-related poisoning hospitalizations occurred among males (72%) and among individuals aged 20 to 49 years (73%) so far in 2022 (January – June).
Poisoning hospitalizations associated with multiple substances so far in 2022 (January to June)
- Of all opioid-related poisoning hospitalizations, 28% involved co-poisoning with a non-opioid substance; 17% involved co-poisoning with a stimulant.
- Among intentional opioid-related poisoning hospitalizations, a larger proportion involved a co-occurring non-opioid substance (46%) than among accidental poisonings (24%).
- Of all stimulant-related poisoning hospitalizations, 59% involved co-poisoning with a non-stimulant substance; 42% of all stimulant-related poisoning hospitalizations involved co-poisoning with opioids (including fentanyl or fentanyl analogues), while 22% involved specifically fentanyl or fentanyl analogues.
- Among accidental stimulant-related poisoning hospitalizations, a larger proportion involved fentanyl or fentanyl analogues (31%) than among intentional (6%) poisonings.
Emergency Medical Services Download EMS report in .pdf format
What: There were more than 18,200 Emergency Medical Services (EMS) responses to suspected opioid-related overdoses so far in 2022 (January – June)
- A total of 18,287 EMS responses to suspected opioid-related overdoses occurred so far in 2022 (January – June), based on available data from eight provinces and territories. For a similar timeframe in 2019, before the COVID-19 pandemic, there were 12,340 EMS responses for the same eight provinces and territories; this represents a 48% increase.
Who: Young- to middle-aged males continue to be the most affected
- Of the EMS responses for suspected opioid-related overdoses so far in 2022 (January – June), 73% were among males.
- The majority of EMS responses for suspected opioid-related overdoses so far in 2022 (January – June) were among those aged 20 to 49 years; however, variations are apparent between provinces and territories.
Footnotes
- Footnote 1
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Manitoba data from January to June 2022 and Saskatchewan data from April to June 2022 were not available at the time of this update.
- Footnote 2
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The national overall count from January 2016 to June 2022 includes deaths from British Columbia (2019 to 2022 [Jan to Jun]) related to all illicit drugs and Quebec (2021 and 2022 [Jan to Jun]) related to drug or opioid-related intoxication.
- Footnote 3
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Based on 2022 (Jan to Jun) data on origin of opioids from deaths with completed investigations from nine provinces.
- Footnote 4
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Opioids with a pharmaceutical origin refer to opioids that were manufactured by a pharmaceutical company and approved for medical purposes in humans. Pharmaceutical origin does not indicate how the opioids were obtained (e.g. through personal prescription or by other means).
Acknowledgments
This update would not be possible without the collaboration and dedication of provincial and territorial (PT) offices of Chief Coroners and Chief Medical Examiners as well as PT public health and health partners and Emergency Medical Services data providers. We would also like to acknowledge the Canadian Institute for Health Information (CIHI) for collecting and providing the data used for reporting opioid- and stimulant-related poisoning hospitalizations.
Suggested Citation
Federal, provincial, and territorial Special Advisory Committee on the Epidemic of Opioid Overdoses. Opioid- and Stimulant-related Harms in Canada. Ottawa: Public Health Agency of Canada; December 2022. https://health-infobase.canada.ca/substance-related-harms/opioids-stimulants/