Opioid- and Stimulant-related Harms in Canada Published: (March 2023): Health Infobase

Key Findings
Maps
Graphs
Technical Notes

Key Findings
Maps

Graphs
Technical Notes

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Number of total apparent opioid toxicity deaths by quarter in Quebec, 2016 to 2022 (Jan to Sep)

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Data on hospitalizations from Quebec are not included in the dataset used for analysis. As a result, Quebec is excluded. Refer to the Technical Notes for more information.
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). Data on origin of opioids were only available for deaths with completed investigations from 2018 onward from six provinces and territories. More information on origin data can be found in the Technical Notes.
Suppressed (suppr.) – Data may be suppressed in provinces or territories with low numbers of cases.
Suppressed (suppr.) - Data may be suppressed in provinces or territories with low numbers of cases in order to comply with privacy and confidentiality rules. Refer to Technical notes for more information
Not available (n/a) – Data were not available at the time of this publication.
Manitoba data from January to September 2022 were not available at the time of this update.
Apparent opioid toxicity death (AOTD): A death caused by intoxication/toxicity (poisoning) resulting from substance use, where one or more of the substances is an opioid, regardless of how it was obtained (e.g. illegally or through personal prescription). Other substances may also be involved. Data on apparent opioid toxicity deaths 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.
Apparent stimulant toxicity death (ASTD): A death caused by intoxication/toxicity (poisoning) resulting from substance use, where one or more of the substances is a stimulant, regardless of how it was obtained (e.g. illegally or through personal prescription). Other substances may also be involved. Data on apparent opioid toxicity deaths 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.
Data on opioid-related and stimulant-related poisoning hospitalizations are not mutually exclusive. A 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.
Until investigations are completed, some provinces and territories report fentanyl specific information only or report data on fentanyl and fentanyl analogues together. Therefore, some deaths involving fentanyl analogues may be included in the fentanyl percentages.

This update is based on data submitted to the Public Health Agency of Canada on or before February 1, 2023. Due to differences in identifying and reporting cases, comparisons over time and between provinces and territories should be interpreted with caution. Refer to the Technical Notes for more information.

Number of total apparent opioid toxicity deaths by quarter in Quebec, 2016 to 2022 (Jan to Sep)
Year and quarter	Number
2016 (Jan to Mar)	68
2016 (Apr to Jun)	64
2016 (Jul to Sep)	68
2016 (Oct to Dec)	63
2017 (Jan to Mar)	65
2017 (Apr to Jun)	79
2017 (Jul to Sep)	69
2017 (Oct to Dec)	67
2018 (Jan to Mar)	55
2018 (Apr to Jun)	51
2018 (Jul to Sep)	42
2018 (Oct to Dec)	63
2019 (Jan to Mar)	52
2019 (Apr to Jun)	54
2019 (Jul to Sep)	51
2019 (Oct to Dec)	51
2020 (Jan to Mar)	55
2020 (Apr to Jun)	80
2020 (Jul to Sep)	95
2020 (Oct to Dec)	86
2021 (Jan to Mar)	99
2021 (Apr to Jun)	113
2021 (Jul to Sep)	127
2021 (Oct to Dec)	111
2022 (Jan to Mar)	116
2022 (Apr to Jun)	136
2022 (Jul to Sep)	144

Data on hospitalizations from Quebec are not included in the dataset used for analysis. As a result, Quebec is excluded. Refer to the Technical Notes for more information.
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). Data on origin of opioids were only available for deaths with completed investigations from 2018 onward from six provinces and territories. More information on origin data can be found in the Technical Notes.
Suppressed (Suppr.) – Data may be suppressed in provinces or territories with low numbers of cases.
Suppressed (suppr.) - Data may be suppressed in provinces or territories with low numbers of cases in order to comply with privacy and confidentiality rules. Refer to Technical notes for more information
Not available (n/a) – Data were not available at the time of this publication.
Manitoba data from January to September 2022 were not available at the time of this update.
Apparent opioid toxicity death (AOTD): A death caused by intoxication/toxicity (poisoning) resulting from substance use, where one or more of the substances is an opioid, regardless of how it was obtained (e.g. illegally or through personal prescription). Other substances may also be involved. Data on apparent opioid toxicity deaths 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.
Apparent stimulant toxicity death (ASTD): A death caused by intoxication/toxicity (poisoning) resulting from substance use, where one or more of the substances is a stimulant, regardless of how it was obtained (e.g. illegally or through personal prescription). Other substances may also be involved. Data on apparent opioid toxicity deaths 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.
Data on opioid-related and stimulant-related poisoning hospitalizations are not mutually exclusive. A 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.
Until investigations are completed, some provinces and territories report fentanyl specific information only or report data on fentanyl and fentanyl analogues together. Therefore, some deaths involving fentanyl analogues may be included in the fentanyl percentages.

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; March 2023. https://health-infobase.canada.ca/substance-related-harms/opioids-stimulants/

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Opioid- and Stimulant-related Harms in Canada Published: (March 2023): Health Infobase

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Learn more about opioids and stimulants in Canada