Non-Fatal Overdose Incidents in Federal Custody, 2022 to 2023
Number: RIB-25-07
Date: 2025
Alternative Format:
Why we did this study
As part of ongoing monitoring efforts, the current study provides a summary of non-fatal overdose incidents that occurred within Canadian federal institutions in fiscal year (FY) 2022 to 2023.
What we did
CSC’s administrative database (the Offender Management System; [OMS]) was examined to identify all reported non-fatal overdose incidents in fiscal year (FY) 2022 to 2023 (April 1st, 2022, to March 31st, 2023). Overdose incidents were included when the consumption of substances led to medical intervention (for example, administration of Naloxone, first aid, etc.) and/or resulted in a designation of serious bodily injury. Incident reports (and Warden’s Situation Reports, when available) were then coded for information pertaining to involved substances and preceding events. Profile/demographic data were extracted from the OMS.
What we found
In 2022 to 2023, there were 143 non-fatal overdoses among 124 federally incarcerated individuals. This marks a 16.3% increase from FY 2021 to 2022, and the first time in the past three FYs that the number of incidents has increased (see Table 1). Compared to FY 2021 to 2022, the number of incidents increased in the Atlantic, Ontario, and Pacific Regions, remained relatively stable in the Prairie Region, and decreased in the Quebec Region.
Twenty-two (15.4%) overdose incidents included no information regarding suspected and/or confirmed substancesFootnote 1, and another 29 (20.3%) included vague substance information that made it challenging to analyze substance categories (for example, “white powdery substance”). Therefore, the findings regarding substance categories are based upon the 92 incidents (64.3%) where substance information is available. The most common substance categoryFootnote 2 involved in the overdose incidents was opioids (n = 51/92; 55.4%). Like previous FYs, fentanyl was the most common opioid (n = 25/51; 49.0%), followed by suboxone (n = 19/51; 37.3%) and/or methadone (n = 6/51; 11.8%). The second most common substance categories involved were stimulants (n = 15/92; 16.3%) and/or psychotropic medicationsFootnote 3 (n = 15/92; 16.3%). ‘Other’ substances were identified in 45.7% of incidents (n = 42/92). Prescription medicationsFootnote 4 were identified in 63.0% of incidents (n = 58/92).
Many different stressors/events occurred before the overdose incidents, including but not limited to (1) general mental health issues (for example, other recent drug overdoses/suicide attempts, symptoms of anxiety/depression; n = 77/143; 53.8%), (2) interpersonal issues with family, romantic partners, and/or other incarcerated individuals (n = 64/143; 44.8%), and (3) issues relating to release to the community (for example, recent revocation or denial of release, anxiety about upcoming release, etc.; n = 30/143; 21.0%).
Among the 124 individualsFootnote 5 who experienced an overdose in FY 2022 to 2023, the demographic profile was similar to previous years. Specifically, individuals tended to be Indigenous (n = 55/124; 44.4%) or White (n = 52/124; 41.9%) males (n = 116/124; 93.5%) in their mid-to-late thirties (M = 37 years old). Over half (n = 75/124; 60.5%) were rated as medium-security, and the largest proportion were serving a sentence for a homicide-related offence (n = 41/124; 33.1%) or assault (n = 29/124; 23.4%).
Region |
Fiscal Year |
|||
| 2019 to 2020 n(%) |
2020 to 2021 n(%) |
2021 to 2022 n(%) |
2022 to 2023 n(%) |
|
Atlantic |
12 (6.90) |
21 (16.03) |
6 (4.92) |
10 (6.99) |
Quebec |
23 (13.21) |
23 (17.56) |
24 (19.67) |
14 (9.79) |
Ontario |
74 (42.53) |
28 (21.37) |
37 (30.33) |
50 (34.67) |
Prairie |
29 (16.67) |
34 (25.95) |
27 (22.13) |
29 (20.28) |
Pacific |
36 (20.69) |
25 (19.08) |
28 (22.95) |
40 (27.97) |
Total |
174 |
131 |
122 |
143 |
What it means
Non-fatal overdose incidents have increased for the first time in three FYs; however, the in-custody population increased between FYs 2021 to 2022 and 2022 to 2023 by 5.9%Footnote 6. Furthermore, there were about 0.01 overdose incidents per incarcerated person in FY 2022 to 2023, which is also a marginal increase compared to FY 2021 to 2022 (0.009 incidents per incarcerated person). As such, the increase in the number of overdose incidents might be attributable to the in-custody population increase. Nevertheless, substance trends remain stable: opioids – particularly fentanyl – remain the most common substance category involved, followed by stimulants and/or psychotropic medications. Ongoing reporting of non-fatal overdose incidents remains crucial for minimizing substance-use-related harms, improving health of incarcerated individuals, and overall institutional safety.
For more information
Please e-mail the Research Branch. You can also visit the Research Publications section for a full list of reports and one-page summaries.
Prepared by: Daniella Filoso, Myriam Girard, Marie-Pierre Gendron, and Nick Chadwick