Canada recorded a 17% drop in opioid-related deaths in 2024 compared to the previous year, but health officials say the country remains in the grip of one of the worst public health crises in its history.According to newly released national data, 7,146 people died from opioid-related drug toxicity between January and December 2024. There were also 5,514 hospitalizations, 36,266 emergency medical service responses, and 24,587 visits to emergency departments due to substance-related harms..Despite the year-over-year improvement, officials say the numbers remain alarmingly high. “In 2024, an average of 20 people died every day from opioid toxicity in Canada,” said a joint statement issued by the Council of Chief Medical Officers of Health and the Chief Coroners and Chief Medical Examiners.Regional differences are stark. British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan, Ontario, New Brunswick, and Yukon all reported fewer opioid deaths, while Manitoba, Nova Scotia and Prince Edward Island saw little change. Increases were recorded in Quebec, the Northwest Territories, and Newfoundland and Labrador..Many indigenous communities, particularly indigenous women, continue to experience disproportionately high rates of substance-related deaths. Health officials say these outcomes are tied to colonial legacies and ongoing marginalization.Some experts believe the decline in opioid deaths in several regions may be partly due to changes in the toxicity of the drug supply, with drug-checking data indicating lower fentanyl concentrations in some areas. However, several regions also reported increased deaths from non-opioid substances, including stimulants and benzodiazepines..Officials emphasized the importance of a population- and person-centered approach to tackling the drug toxicity crisis. They called for continued coordination across public health, harm reduction, treatment, enforcement, and surveillance.Since 2016, national efforts have been underway to develop a pan-Canadian surveillance system to track the evolving crisis. Death investigation data continues to play a critical role in identifying emerging threats and supporting public health action.The province of Quebec did not endorse the joint statement, saying it will continue to follow its own data and pursue independent policy approaches.
