While Canada saw a welcome drop in opioid-related overdose deaths in 2024, the grim reality is that the toll remains significantly higher than before the COVID-19 pandemic. A joint statement from the country’s chief medical officers of health, chief coroners, and chief medical examiners revealed that 7,146 individuals died from opioid toxicity between January and December 2024. This figure is down from 8,623 deaths in 2023, but still a stark increase from the 3,742 reported in 2019, averaging 20 deaths per day last year.
The national numbers, however, obscure critical regional disparities. While British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan, Ontario, New Brunswick, and Yukon experienced a decrease in opioid-related deaths, Quebec, Newfoundland and Labrador, and the Northwest Territories actually saw an increase. Manitoba, Nova Scotia, and Prince Edward Island maintained similar levels, and data for Nunavut was unavailable.
A concerning trend highlighted in the statement is the rise in opioid-related deaths within many Indigenous communities, particularly among women. This tragic increase is attributed to the enduring impacts of “colonialization and continued marginalization.” The report underscored that “the overdose crisis, driven by a toxic illegal drug supply, is one of the most serious public health crises our country has ever faced.”
Provinces and territories reporting fewer deaths in 2024 partially credited a “shift to lower toxicity of the drug supply,” with drug-checking data indicating reduced fentanyl concentrations. Despite this, fentanyl was still implicated in 74 per cent of all opioid toxicity deaths, and 70 per cent also involved a stimulant such as cocaine or methamphetamine.
Geographically, British Columbia, Ontario, and Alberta accounted for a staggering 80 per cent of all opioid toxicity deaths. On a per-capita basis, Yukon, Alberta, and Manitoba were hit hardest, each reporting 20 or more deaths per 100,000 population. Males comprised the majority of deaths, at 71 per cent.
Beyond fatalities, the crisis also strained healthcare resources, with 5,514 hospitalizations, 36,266 ambulance responses, and 24,587 emergency department visits attributed to suspected opioid-related drug toxicity across Canada in 2024. While these numbers represent an approximate 15 per cent reduction from 2023, they underscore the immense burden on the healthcare system. The Public Health Agency of Canada acknowledged the profound human cost, stating that the data “may represent stories of pain, grief, and trauma” and recognizing all those impacted by substance use.