Opioid- and Stimulant-related Harms in Canada: Health Infobase
The most recent available data on overdoses and deaths involving opioids and/or stimulants from January 2016 to September 2023 in Canada, where available.
- Last updated: 2024-03-27
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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 so far in in Canada
{Deaths}
Apparent opioid toxicity deathsFootnote 1Footnote 2
(%% higher than same period in 2022)
{Deaths per day}
Deaths per day
{Hospitalizations}
Opioid-related poisoning hospitalizationsFootnote 3
(%% higher than same period in 2022)
{Hospitalizations per day}
Hospitalizations per day
{ED visits}
Opioid-related poisoning Emergency Department (ED) visitsFootnote 4
(%% higher than same period in 2022)
{ED visits per day}
ED visits per day
{Emergency Medical Services (EMS) responses}
Emergency Medical Services (EMS) responses to suspected opioid-related overdosesFootnote 5Footnote 6
(%% higher than same period in 2022)
{EMS responses per day}
EMS responses per day
Report summary
Deaths
- There was a total of 42,494 apparent opioid toxicity deaths reported between January 2016 and September 2023.
- So far in 2023 (January – September), most (88%) of the accidental apparent opioid toxicity deaths in Canada occurred in British Columbia, Alberta, and Ontario.
- Males accounted for 72% of accidental apparent opioid toxicity deaths so far in 2023 (January – September), while those aged 20 to 59 years accounted for 88%.
- Of all accidental apparent opioid toxicity deaths so far in 2023 (January – September), 82% involved fentanyl. This percentage has increased by 44% since 2016 when national surveillance began but appears to have stabilized in recent years.
- Of all accidental apparent opioid toxicity deaths so far in 2023 (January – September), 82% involved opioids that were only non-pharmaceuticalFootnote 7Footnote 8.
- Of all accidental apparent opioid toxicity deaths so far in 2023 (January – September), 57% also involved a stimulant.
Hospitalizations
- There were 41,045 reported opioid-related poisoning hospitalizations from January 2016 to September 2023, where 65% were accidental poisonings.
- Most accidental opioid-related poisoning hospitalizations occurred among males (91%) and among individuals aged 30 to 39 years (24%) so far in 2023 (January – September).
- Among the 4,646 opioid-related poisoning hospitalizations so far in 2023 (January – September), 18% involved co-poisoning with a stimulant.
- Fentanyl and its analogues were involved in 32% of opioid-related poisoning hospitalizations so far in 2023 (January – September). The percentage of all opioid-related poisoning hospitalizations that involved fentanyl and its analogues has increased 100% since 2018 when national surveillance began, but appears to have stabilized in recent years.
- Among the 1,795 stimulant-related poisoning hospitalizations so far in 2023 (January – September), 46% involved co-poisoning with an opioid.
Emergency department visits
- There were 169,723 reported opioid-related poisoning emergency department visits from January 2016 to September 2023 Footnote 4. Among these, 77% were accidental opioid-related emergency department visit Footnote 9.
- Most opioid-related poisoning emergency department visits occurred among males (68%) and among individuals aged 20 to 49 years (74%) so far in 2023 (January – September)Footnote 4.
- Of opioid-related poisoning emergency department visits so far in 2023 (January – September), 8% involved co-poisoning with a stimulantFootnote 9.
- Fentanyl and its analogues were involved in 44% of opioid-related poisoning emergency department visits so far in 2023 (January – September)Footnote 9. The percentage of all opioid-related poisoning emergency department visits that involved fentanyl and its analogues has increased 120% since 2018 when national surveillance began, but appears to have stabilized in recent years.
- Of stimulant-related poisoning emergency department visits so far in 2023 (January – September), 32% involved co-poisoning with opioids (including fentanyl or fentanyl analogues)Footnote 9.
Emergency medical services
- Of the EMS responses for suspected opioid-related overdoses so far in 2023 (January – September), 70% were among malesFootnote 5.
- The majority of EMS responses for suspected opioid-related overdoses so far in 2023 (January – September) were among those aged 20 to 49 years; however, variations are apparent between provinces and territoriesFootnote 5.
Footnotes
- Footnote 1
-
Manitoba data from April 2022 onwards and Nunavut data from July 2023 onwards were not available at the time of this update.
- Footnote 2
-
The national overall count includes deaths from British Columbia (2019 onwards) related to all unregulated drugs and Quebec (2022 onwards) related to drug or opioid-related intoxication.
- Footnote 3
-
Data on hospitalizations from Quebec are not included in the dataset used for analysis. As a result, Quebec is excluded.
- Footnote 4
-
Based on data available from seven provinces and territories, including British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan, Ontario, Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island, and Yukon.
- Footnote 5
-
Based on data available from nine provinces and territories, including British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, Ontario, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Yukon, Northwest Territories.
- Footnote 6
-
Northern and Rural Manitoba data from April 2023 onwards were not available at the time of this update.
- Footnote 7
-
Based on 2023 (Jan to Sep) data on origin of opioids from deaths with completed investigations from eight provinces or territories.
- Footnote 8
-
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 9
-
Based on data available from six provinces and territories, including Alberta, Saskatchewan, Ontario, Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island, and Yukon.
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 the Epidemic of Opioid Overdoses. Opioid- and Stimulant-related Harms in Canada. Ottawa: Public Health Agency of Canada; March 2024. https://health-infobase.canada.ca/substance-related-harms/opioids-stimulants/
Learn more about opioids and stimulants in Canada
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