Opioid-related harms in Canada
The opioid crisis continues to devastate communities and families across the country. It is affecting the health and lives of people from all walks of life, all age groups and all socio-economic backgrounds.
The Government of Canada works closely with the provinces and territories to collect and share accurate information about the crisis in order to provide a national picture of the public health impact of opioids in Canada and to help guide efforts to reduce opioid-related harms.
National report: Opioid-related harms in Canada
The opioid crisis has affected every part of the country, but some regions and populations have been impacted more than others. Provinces and territories collect and share data on apparent opioid-related deaths, opioid-related hospitalizations, and suspected opioid-related overdoses attended by Emergency Medical Services. This report provides key findings, interactive maps and details on observed trends at the national-level.
View report (Last updated: December 2019)
How the Government of Canada is responding to the opioid crisis
We are working with provinces, territories and other partners to take a collaborative approach to the crisis.
Relevant studies
The Public Health Agency of Canada conducts additional studies to provide important contextual information on the crisis.
Related links
- Hospitalizations and emergency department visits (2013 to 2017) (Canadian Institute for Health Information)
- Signs of an opioid overdose, and what to do in an overdose situation.
- Naloxone and where you can get it.
- Problematic substance use can have serious health risks and can impact families and relationships. Learn more about the risks of opioids and what resources are available in your province.
- Stigma around substance use can prevent people from getting the help they need. You can help by:
- listening with compassion and without judgement, so a person who uses drugs feels heard and understood
- speaking up when someone is being treated disrespectfully because of their substance use
- being kind with the words you use. Words matter. Use people first language.
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