The most recent available data on overdoses and deaths involving opioids and/or stimulants from January 2016 to June 2024 in Canada, where available.
https://health-infobase.canada.ca/substance-related-harms/opioids-stimulants
Last updated: 2024-12-23
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.
Deaths
- There was a total of 49,105 apparent opioid toxicity deaths reported between January 2016 and June 2024Footnote2Footnote3.
- So far in 2024 (January to June), most (84%) of the accidental apparent opioid toxicity deaths in Canada occurred in British Columbia, Alberta, and OntarioFootnote1Footnote2.
- Most accidental apparent opioid toxicity deaths occurred among males (72%) and among individuals aged 30 to 39 years (30%) so far in 2024 (January to June)Footnote1Footnote2.
- Of all accidental apparent opioid toxicity deaths so far in 2024 (January to June), 79% involved fentanylFootnote1Footnote2. This percentage has increased by 39% 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 June), 82% involved opioids that were non-pharmaceuticalFootnote5Footnote6.
- Of all accidental apparent opioid toxicity deaths so far in 2024 (January to June), 65% also involved a stimulantFootnote7.
Hospitalizations
- There were 45,707 reported opioid-related poisoning hospitalizations from January 2016 to June 2024, where 66% were accidental poisonings.
- Most accidental opioid-related poisoning hospitalizations occurred among males (64%) and among individuals aged 60 years or more (25%) so far in 2024 (January to June).
- Among the 2,846 opioid-related poisoning hospitalizations so far in 2024 (January to June), 18% 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 June). 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 1,107 stimulant-related poisoning hospitalizations so far in 2024 (January to June), 46% involved co-poisoning with an opioid.
Emergency department visits
- There were 187,511 reported opioid-related poisoning emergency department visits from 2016 to June 2024 Footnote9. Among these, 60% were accidental opioid-related emergency department visits Footnote10.
- Most opioid-related poisoning emergency department visits occurred among males (67%) and among individuals aged 30 to 39 years (33%) so far in 2024 (January to June)Footnote9.
- Of opioid-related poisoning emergency department visits so far in 2024 (January to June), 8% involved co-poisoning with a stimulantFootnote10.
- Fentanyl and its analogues were involved in 47% of opioid-related poisoning emergency department visits so far in 2024 (January to June)Footnote10. 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 June), 33% involved co-poisoning with opioids and 19% with fentanyl or fentanyl analoguesFootnote10.
Emergency medical services
- There was a total of 227,468 EMS responses to suspected opioid-related overdoses reported between January 2017 and June 2024Footnote13.
- Most EMS responses to suspected opioid-related overdoses occurred among males (72%) and among individuals aged 30 to 39 years (35%) so far in 2024 (January to June) Footnote12.