Data, surveillance and research on opioids and other substances
Links to evidence guiding the Government of Canada's response to the overdose crisis.
On this page
- Get the latest data
- Joint statement on the crisis
- Federal actions on opioids
- Reports, studies and surveys
- Provincial and territorial information
Get the latest data

Access the most recent data on opioid- and stimulant-related harms in Canada (Last updated: June 2022)
- Apparent opioid and stimulant toxicity deaths
- Opioid- and stimulant-related poisoning hospitalizations
- Emergency Medical Services responses to suspected opioid-related overdoses
Joint statement on the crisis
Dr. Theresa Tam, Canada's Chief Public Health Officer, and Dr. Jennifer Russell, the Chief Medical Officer of Health of New Brunswick, share their perspectives on these data, the overdose crisis and actions needed to prevent further substance-related harms in Canada.
Read the joint statement (Last updated: June 2022)
Federal actions on opioids
Read about the Government of Canada's actions to address the overdose crisis and help save lives, including:
- government funding for projects
- increased access to treatment and harm reduction programs
- awareness, prevention and enforcement efforts
Read more about Federal actions on opioids (Last updated: June 2022)
Reports, studies and surveys
Read the Government of Canada’s studies and published reports on the overdose crisis at the national level.
Public Health Agency of Canada
- People experiencing homelessness are overrepresented among those who have died of substance-related acute toxicity.
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A simulation model that provides information on the number of opioid-related deaths that may occur up until December 2022
Modelling opioid-related deaths during the COVID-19 outbreak (Last updated: June 2022)
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Adults who report a diagnosis of a mood disorder have a higher prevalence of using opioid pain relief medication in the past 12 months than adults without a mood disorder diagnosis.
Archives
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From 2010 to 2020, hospitalizations for neonatal abstinence syndrome in Canada have increased
Neonatal abstinence syndrome in Canada: a descriptive analysis of hospitalization data
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People experiencing homelessness are at a greater risk of substance-related harms and patterns for poisonings differ compared to people with housing
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People who experience an opioid-related poisoning are at risk of brain injury from a lack of oxygen, which may have lasting mental and physical effects
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Understanding the mental health profile of individuals who experience opioid-related harms can support evidence-based policies and interventions
Opioid-related harms and mental disorders in Canada: a descriptive analysis of hospitalization data
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In addition to overdoses and deaths, exploring a range of opioid-related harms can help inform public health actions to address the opioid overdose crisis
Brief report: Understanding a broader range of opioid-related hospitalizations in Canada
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Integrating harms data to better understand the public health impact and pathways of the opioid overdose crisis
Brief report: Integrating Emergency Medical Service, hospitalization, and death data
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A national study on opioid and other drug-related overdose deaths: insights from coroners and medical examiners
National study highlights: Insights from coroners and medical examiners
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Measuring the impact of the opioid overdose epidemic on life expectancy at birth in Canada
Key Findings and brief report: opioid overdose epidemic on life expectancy at birth
Health Canada
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Latest data from the Canadian Tobacco, Alcohol and Drugs Survey
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Scientific and technical services to help Canadian law enforcement agencies in their activities involving illegal drugs
Statistics Canada
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Relevant bulletins and administrative data from Statistics Canada on the use of opioids and other substances
Canadian Institute for Health Information
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The impact of COVID-19 on harms related to substance use
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Latest data on opioid prescribing in Canada
Canadian Institutes of Health Research
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CIHR aims to improve understanding of substance use and its effects on our health
Provincial and territorial information
Provincial and territorial differences exist in the impact of the opioid crisis and in their response. To find out more, please refer to the links below:
- British Columbia
- Alberta
- Saskatchewan
- Manitoba
- Ontario
- Quebec (available in French only)
- New Brunswick
- Nova Scotia
- Prince Edward Island
- Newfoundland and Labrador
- Yukon
- Northwest Territories
- Nunavut
For more information
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