Opioid- and Stimulant-related Harms in Canada: Key findings
The most recent available data on overdoses and deaths involving opioids and/or stimulants from January 2016 to March 2025 in Canada, where available.
- Last updated: 2025-09-23
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Context
Canada has seen substantially elevated numbers of toxic drug poisonings since national surveillance began in 2016 by the Public Health Agency of Canada. 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. Since 2020, several jurisdictions have reported higher rates of toxic drug poisoning with fluctuations in recent quarters.
Presented here are the most recent available data on opioid- and stimulant-related poisonings in Canada, where available. For more details on additional studies and other products related to the toxic drug crisis, refer to the Data, surveillance and research page.
Key updates
Reported in the last 12 months () in Canada
{Deaths}
Apparent opioid toxicity deathsFootnote 1Footnote 2Footnote 3Footnote 4
(%% higher than the previous 12 months)
{Deaths per day}
Deaths per day on average
{Hospitalizations}
Opioid-related poisoning hospitalizationsFootnote 8
(%% higher than the previous 12 months)
{Hospitalizations per day}
Hospitalizations per day on average
{ED visits}
Opioid-related poisoning Emergency Department (ED) visitsFootnote 9
(%% higher than the previous 12 months)
{ED visits per day}
ED visits per day on average
{Emergency Medical Services (EMS) responses}
Emergency Medical Services (EMS) responses to suspected opioid-related overdosesFootnote 11
(%% higher than the previous 12 months)
{EMS responses per day}
EMS responses per day on average
Report summary
Deaths
- There was a total of 53,821 apparent opioid toxicity deaths reported between January 2016 and March 2025Footnote 3.
- A total of 1,377 apparent opioid toxicity deaths have been reported so far in 2025 (Jan to Mar), of which 95% were accidentalFootnote 1Footnote 2Footnote 3.
- So far in 2025 (Jan to Mar), most (78%) apparent opioid toxicity deaths in Canada occurred in British Columbia, Alberta, and OntarioFootnote 2.
- Most apparent opioid toxicity deaths occurred among males (73%) and among individuals aged 40 to 49 years (27%) so far in 2025 (Jan to Mar)Footnote 2.
- Of all apparent opioid toxicity deaths so far in 2025 (Jan to Mar), 63% involved fentanyl and 51% involved fentanyl analoguesFootnote 2.
- Of all apparent opioid toxicity deaths so far in 2025 (Jan to Mar), 82% involved opioids that were non-pharmaceuticalFootnote 5Footnote 6.
- Of all apparent opioid toxicity deaths so far in 2025 (Jan to Mar), 62% also involved a stimulantFootnote 7.
Hospitalizations
- There was a total of 49,445 opioid-related poisoning hospitalizations reported from January 2016 to March 2025Footnote 8.
- A total of 1,218 opioid-related poisoning hospitalizations have been reported so far in 2025 (Jan to Mar), of which 71% were accidental.
- Most opioid-related poisoning hospitalizations occurred among males (59%) and among individuals aged 60 years or more (26%) so far in 2025 (Jan to Mar).
- Of all opioid-related poisoning hospitalizations so far in 2025 (Jan to Mar), 27% involved fentanyl and its analogues. This percentage has increased by 69% since 2018 when national surveillance began but appears to have stabilized in recent years.
- Of all opioid-related poisoning hospitalizations so far in 2025 (Jan to Mar), 14% also involved a stimulant.
- Of all accidental stimulant-related poisoning hospitalizations so far in 2025 (Jan to Mar), 38% also involved an opioid.
Emergency department visits
- There were 203,577 reported opioid-related poisoning emergency department visits from January 2016 to March 2025Footnote 9.
- A total of 5,370 opioid-related poisoning emergency department visits have been reported so far in 2025 (Jan to Mar), of which 85% were accidentalFootnote 9Footnote 10.
- Most opioid-related poisoning emergency department visits occurred among males (65%) and among individuals aged 30 to 39 years (32%) so far in 2025 (Jan to Mar)Footnote 9.
- Of all opioid-related poisoning emergency department visits so far in 2025 (Jan to Mar), 35% involved fentanyl and its analoguesFootnote 10. This percentage increased by 75% since 2018 when national surveillance began but appears to have stabilized in recent years.
- Of all opioid-related poisoning emergency department visits so far in 2025 (Jan to Mar), 8% also involved a stimulantFootnote 10.
- Of all stimulant-related poisoning emergency department visits so far in 2025 (Jan to Mar), 31% also involved an opioidFootnote 10.
Emergency medical services
- There was a total of 252,580 EMS responses to suspected opioid-related overdoses reported between January 2017 and March 2025Footnote 12.
- A total of 7,788 EMS responses to suspected opioid-related overdoses have been reported so far in 2025 (Jan to Mar).
- Most EMS responses to suspected opioid-related overdoses occurred among males (71%) and among individuals aged 30 to 39 years (34%) so far in 2025 (Jan to Mar) Footnote 11.
Footnotes
- Footnote 1
-
Due to the time required to complete death investigations, data on apparent opioid and stimulant toxicity deaths for the four most recent quarters are considered preliminary and subject to change. Numbers and trends should be interpreted with caution.
- Footnote 2
-
Based on data available from 11 provinces and territories, including British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, Ontario, Quebec, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island, Newfoundland and Labrador, and Yukon.
- Footnote 3
-
The national overall count includes deaths from British Columbia related to all unregulated drugs and Quebec related to drug or opioid-related intoxication.
- Footnote 4
-
Based on data available from eight provinces and territories, including British Columbia, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, Ontario, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Newfoundland and Labrador, and Yukon.
- Footnote 5
-
Based on data available from eight provinces or territories, including British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, Ontario, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia and Newfoundland and Labrador.
- Footnote 6
-
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).
- Footnote 7
-
Based on data available from 10 provinces and territories, including British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, Ontario, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island, Newfoundland and Labrador, and Yukon.
- Footnote 8
-
Data on hospitalizations from Quebec are not included in the dataset used for analysis. As a result, Quebec is excluded.
- Footnote 9
-
Based on data available from seven provinces and territories, including British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan, Ontario, Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island, and Yukon.
- Footnote 10
-
Based on data available from six provinces and territories, including Alberta, Saskatchewan, Ontario, Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island, and Yukon.
- Footnote 11
-
Based on data available from nine provinces and territories, including British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, Ontario, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Yukon, and the Northwest Territories.
- Footnote 12
-
Based on data available from 10 provinces and territories, including British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, Ontario, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Newfoundland and Labrador, Yukon, and the Northwest Territories.
This update is based on data submitted to or extracted by the Public Health Agency of Canada on or before . New or revised data reported after this date will be reflected in future updates. Differences may exist in case identification and reporting, type of data reported and time period of available data. Comparisons over time and between provinces and territories should be interpreted with caution.
Acknowledgments
We recognize that the data in this report may represent stories of pain, grief, and trauma. This report cannot adequately reflect the burden borne by Canadians. We acknowledge all those impacted by substance use, and those who work to save lives and reduce substance-related harms on individuals and communities.
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 and emergency department visits.
Suggested Citation
Substance-related Overdose and Mortality Surveillance Task Group on behalf of the Council of Chief Medical Officers of Health. Opioid- and Stimulant-related Harms in Canada. Ottawa: Public Health Agency of Canada; September 2025.
Learn more about opioids and stimulants in Canada
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