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 2024 in Canada, where available.
- Last updated: 2024-09-13
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Context
Canada has seen substantially elevated numbers of opioid-related deaths and other harms 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. The COVID-19 pandemic may have exacerbated the crisis, as several jurisdictions reported higher rates of fatal overdoses and other harms following the onset of the pandemic.
Presented here are the most recent available data on opioid- and stimulant-related overdoses and deaths in Canada, where available. For more details on additional studies and other products related to the overdose crisis, refer to the Data, surveillance and research page.
Key updates
Reported in in Canada
{Deaths}
Apparent opioid toxicity deathsFootnote 1Footnote 2Footnote 3Footnote 4
(%% higher than the same period in 2023)
{Deaths per day}
Deaths per day on average
{Hospitalizations}
Opioid-related poisoning hospitalizationsFootnote 8
(%% higher than the same period in 2023)
{Hospitalizations per day}
Hospitalizations per day on average
{ED visits}
Opioid-related poisoning Emergency Department (ED) visitsFootnote 9
(%% higher than the same period in 2023)
{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 11Footnote 12
(%% higher than the same period in 2023)
{EMS responses per day}
EMS responses per day on average
Report summary
Deaths
- There was a total of 47,162 apparent opioid toxicity deaths reported between January 2016 and March 2024.Footnote 2Footnote 3
- So far in 2024 (January to March), most (84%) of the accidental apparent opioid toxicity deaths in Canada occurred in British Columbia, Alberta, and OntarioFootnote 1Footnote 2.
- Most accidental apparent opioid toxicity deaths occurred among males (72%) and among individuals aged 30 to 39 years (31%) so far in 2024 (January to March)Footnote 1Footnote 2.
- Of all accidental apparent opioid toxicity deaths so far in 2024 (January to March), 81% involved fentanylFootnote 1Footnote 2. This percentage has increased by 42% since 2016 when national surveillance began but appears to have stabilized in recent years.
- Of all accidental apparent opioid toxicity deaths so far in 2024 (January to March), 84% involved opioids that were non-pharmaceuticalFootnote 5Footnote 6.
- Of all accidental apparent opioid toxicity deaths so far in 2024 (January to March), 61% also involved a stimulantFootnote 7.
Hospitalizations
- There were 44,366 reported opioid-related poisoning hospitalizations from January 2016 to March 2024, where 65% were accidental poisonings.
- Most accidental opioid-related poisoning hospitalizations occurred among males (65%) and among individuals aged 60 years or more (24%) so far in 2024 (January to March).
- Among the 1,505 opioid-related poisoning hospitalizations so far in 2024 (January to March), 17% involved co-poisoning with a stimulant.
- Fentanyl and its analogues were involved in 33% of opioid-related poisoning hospitalizations so far in 2024 (January to March). The percentage of all opioid-related poisoning hospitalizations that involved fentanyl and its analogues has increased by 106% since 2018 when national surveillance began, but appears to have stabilized in recent years.
- Among the 571 stimulant-related poisoning hospitalizations so far in 2024 (January to March), 46% involved co-poisoning with an opioid.
Emergency department visits
- There were 180,961 reported opioid-related poisoning emergency department visits from 2016 to March 2024 Footnote 9. Among these, 77% were accidental opioid-related emergency department visits Footnote 10.
- Most opioid-related poisoning emergency department visits occurred among males (68%) and among individuals aged 20 to 49 years (75%) so far in 2024 (January to March)Footnote 9.
- Of opioid-related poisoning emergency department visits so far in 2024 (January to March), 8% involved co-poisoning with a stimulantFootnote 10.
- Fentanyl and its analogues were involved in 47% of opioid-related poisoning emergency department visits so far in 2024 (January to March)Footnote 10. The percentage of all opioid-related poisoning emergency department visits that involved fentanyl and its analogues has increased by 135% since 2018 when national surveillance began, but appears to have stabilized in recent years.
- Of stimulant-related poisoning emergency department visits so far in 2024 (January to March), 32% involved co-poisoning with opioids and 19% with fentanyl or fentanyl analoguesFootnote 10.
Emergency medical services
- There was a total of 216,560 EMS responses to suspected opioid-related overdoses reported between January 2017 and March 2024Footnote 13.
- Most EMS responses to suspected opioid-related overdoses occurred among males (72%) and among individuals aged 30 to 39 years (33%) so far in 2024 (January to March) Footnote 12.
Footnotes
- Footnote 1
-
Based on data available from 12 provinces and territories, including British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, Ontario, Quebec, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island, Newfoundland and Labrador, Yukon, and Northwest Territories.
- Footnote 2
-
Nunavut data from July 2023 onwards were not available at the time of this update.
- 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 nine provinces and territories, including British Columbia, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, Ontario, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Newfoundland and Labrador, Yukon, and Northwest Territories.
- Footnote 5
-
Based on 2024 (Jan to Mar) data on origin of opioids from deaths with completed investigations from nine provinces or territories.
- 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 11 provinces and territories, including British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, Ontario, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island, Newfoundland and Labrador, Yukon, and Northwest Territories.
- 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 seven provinces and territories, including British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan, Ontario, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, and Yukon.
- Footnote 12
-
Northern and rural Manitoba data from April 2023 onwards, Winnipeg, Manitoba data from October 2023 onwards, and Yellowknife, Northwest Territories data from January 2024 onwards were not available at the time of this update.
- Footnote 13
-
Based on data available from seven to 10 provinces and territories, including British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, Ontario, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Newfoundland and Labrador, Yukon, and 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
Federal, provincial, and territorial Special Advisory Committee on Toxic Drug Poisonings. Opioid- and Stimulant-related Harms in Canada. Ottawa: Public Health Agency of Canada; September 2024. https://health-infobase.canada.ca/substance-related-harms/opioids-stimulants/
Learn more about opioids and stimulants in Canada
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