National report: Apparent opioid-related deaths in Canada (January 2016 to March 2017)

Summary

Canada is experiencing a serious and growing opioid crisis. Across the country, it is having devastating effects on families and communities.

Accurate information about the crisis will help the efforts to reduce opioid-related harms and deaths.

The Government of Canada works closely with the provinces and territories to collect and share data on apparent opioid-related deaths. The data will be updated four times a year and may change based on review and refinement.

According to data reported as of August 29, 2017:

in 2016, sadly there were 2,816 apparent opioid-related deaths in Canada
from January to March 2017, there were at least 602 apparent opioid-related deaths and it is expected that this count will rise as additional data become available
most apparent opioid-related deaths occurred among males (73%)
the number of apparent opioid-related deaths involving fentanyl-related opioids more than doubled in January to March 2017 as compared to the same time period in 2016

The data on this page:

are updated on a quarterly basis
may change based on review and refinement
have been collected by the provinces and territories
have been shared through the Special Advisory Committee on the Epidemic of Opioid Overdoses (SAC)

National and regional trends of apparent opioid-related deaths

The opioid epidemic has affected every part of the country, but some provinces and territories have been impacted more than others. The current data indicate that Western Canada has been hardest hit by the crisis; however, several other provinces and territories are reporting increases in apparent opioid-related deaths.

According to data reported as of August 29, 2017:

there were 2,816^Footnote i, apparent opioid-related deaths in Canada in 2016
the national apparent opioid-related death rate in 2016 was 7.8^Footnote ii deaths per 100,000 population
Western Canada experienced the highest apparent opioid-related death rates in 2016 (Figure 1, Table 1)
from January to March 2017, there were at least 602 apparent opioid-related deaths and it is expected that this count will rise as additional data become available (Table 2)

Notes

Footnote i

The previously reported number (2,458) of apparent opioid-related deaths for 2016 did not include data for Quebec and included an estimated number for Ontario based on 2015 data. In addition to other updates to provincial/territorial data, the revised number (2,816) includes preliminary 2016 data for Quebec^Footnote 5 and 2016 data for Ontario.

Return to footnote i referrer

Footnote ii

The previously reported rate (8.8 per 100,000 population) of apparent opioid-related deaths for 2016 did not include data for Quebec, and included an estimated number for Ontario based on 2015 data. The revised rate (7.8 per 100,000 population) is based on 2016 data and population estimates from all 13 provinces and territories, including Quebec, resulting in a lower annual rate overall.

Return to footnote ii referrer

Figure 1. Apparent opioid-related death rates (per 100,000 population) by province or territory, 2016 (as of August 29, 2017). Text description follows. — **Figure 1. Apparent opioid-related death rates (per 100,000 population) by province or territory, 2016 (as of August 29, 2017).**

Provinces and territories	Number	Rate per 100,000 population
British Columbia (note: reports on unintentional deaths related to all illicit drugs, including but not limited, to opioids)	978	20.0 and up
Alberta	586	10.0 to 14.9
Saskatchewan	64	5.0 to 9.9
Manitoba	69	5.0 to 9.9
Ontario	865	5.0 to 9.9
Quebec (expected to rise)	140	0.0 to 4.9
New Brunswick	29	0.0 to 4.9
Nova Scotia	53	5.0 to 9.9
Prince Edward Island	5	0.0 to 4.9
Newfoundland and Labrador	16	0.0 to 4.9
Yukon	6	15.0 to 19.9
Northwest Territories	5	10.0 to 14.9
Nunavut	0	0.0 to 4.9
Total	2816

Table 1. Number and death rate (per 100,000 population) of apparent opioid-related deaths by province or territory, 2016 (as of August 29, 2017).
Province or territory	Number	Death rate per 100,000 population
British Columbia^{Table 1 footnote 1}	978	20.6
Alberta^{Table 1 footnote 2}	586	13.8
Saskatchewan^{Table 1 footnote 3}	64	5.6
Manitoba	69	5.2
Ontario^{Table 1 footnote 4}	865	6.2
Quebec^{Table 1 footnote 5} (expected to rise)	140	1.7
New Brunswick^{Table 1 footnote 6}	29	3.8
Nova Scotia	53	5.6
Prince Edward Island^{Table 1 footnote 7}	5	3.4
Newfoundland and Labrador	16	3.0
Yukon	6	16.0
Northwest Territories	5	11.2
Nunavut	0	0.0
Total	2816	7.8
Table 1 footnote 1 British Columbia reports unintentional deaths related to all illicit drugs including, but not limited to, opioids. Return to Table 1 footnote 1 referrer Table 1 footnote 2 Alberta reports unintentional apparent opioid-related deaths only. Return to Table 1 footnote 2 referrer Table 1 footnote 3 Saskatchewan reports on closed/certified cases only. Updates to historical data will be provided in subsequent reports. Quarterly data for Saskatchewan for 2016 were not available at the time of this publication. Return to Table 1 footnote 3 referrer Table 1 footnote 4 Ontario data from January to March 2017 were not available at the time of this publication. Return to Table 1 footnote 4 referrer Table 1 footnote 5 Quebec data for individuals 19 years and younger were not available. Quebec data were available for closed/certified cases only. 44% of the cases for 2016 were still under investigation. Updates to historical data will be provided in subsequent reports. Quebec data from January to March 2017 were not available at the time of this publication. Return to Table 1 footnote 5 referrer Table 1 footnote 6 New Brunswick data reported here may differ from published provincial reports as these reports focus on apparent opioid-related deaths that are classified as either accidental or of undetermined intent. Return to Table 1 footnote 6 referrer Table 1 footnote 7 Prince Edward Island reports unintentional deaths only. Prince Edward Island chose to suppress counts less than five. Return to Table 1 footnote 7 referrer

Table 2. Number of apparent opioid-related deaths, quarterly, by province or territory, January 2016 to March 2017.
Province or territory	2016					2017
Province or territory	Jan to Mar	Apr to Jun	Jul to Sep	Oct to Dec	Total	Jan to Mar
British Columbia^{Table 2 footnote 1}	223	191	192	372	978	385
Alberta^{Table 2 footnote 2}	125	142	156	163	586	155
Saskatchewan^{Table 2 footnote 3}	^{Table 2 footnote N/A}	^{Table 2 footnote N/A}	^{Table 2 footnote N/A}	^{Table 2 footnote N/A}	64	3
Manitoba	16	13	15	25	69	30
Ontario^{Table 2 footnote 4}	214	218	194	239	865	^{Table 2 footnote N/A}
Quebec^{Table 2 footnote 5}	50	43	35	12	140	^{Table 2 footnote N/A}
New Brunswick^{Table 2 footnote 6}	12	4	9	4	29	10
Nova Scotia	17	14	17	5	53	19
Prince Edward Island^{Table 2 footnote 7}	Suppressed	Suppressed	Suppressed	Suppressed	5	Suppressed
Newfoundland and Labrador^{Table 2 footnote 8}	Suppressed	Suppressed	Suppressed	Suppressed	16	^{Table 2 footnote N/A}
Yukon^{Table 2 footnote 9}	Suppressed	Suppressed	Suppressed	Suppressed	6	Suppressed
Northwest Territories	2	0	1	2	5	0
Nunavut	0	0	0	0	0	0
Table 2 footnote 1 British Columbia reports unintentional deaths related to all illicit drugs including, but not limited to, opioids. Return to Table 2 footnote 1 referrer Table 2 footnote 2 Alberta reports unintentional apparent opioid-related deaths only. Return to Table 2 footnote 2 referrer Table 2 footnote 3 Saskatchewan reports on closed/certified cases only. Updates to historical data will be provided in subsequent reports. Quarterly data for Saskatchewan for 2016 were not available at the time of this publication. Return to Table 2 footnote 3 referrer Table 2 footnote 4 Ontario data from January to March 2017 were not available at the time of this publication. Return to Table 2 footnote 4 referrer Table 2 footnote 5 Quebec data for individuals 19 years and younger were not available. Quebec data were available for closed/certified cases only. 44% of the cases for 2016 were still under investigation. Updates to historical data will be provided in subsequent reports. Quebec data from January to March 2017 were not available at the time of this publication. Return to Table 2 footnote 5 referrer Table 2 footnote 6 New Brunswick data reported here may differ from published provincial reports as these reports focus on apparent opioid-related deaths that are classified as either accidental or of undetermined intent. Return to Table 2 footnote 6 referrer Table 2 footnote 7 Prince Edward Island reports unintentional deaths only. Prince Edward Island chose to suppress counts less than five. Return to Table 2 footnote 7 referrer Table 2 footnote 8 Newfoundland and Labrador data from January to March 2017 were not available at the time of this publication. Newfoundland and Labrador chose to suppress counts less than five. Return to Table 2 footnote 8 referrer Table 2 footnote 9 Yukon chose to suppress counts less than five for quarterly data. Return to Table 2 footnote 9 referrer Table 2 footnote N/A Not available Return to first Table 2 footnote N/A referrer

Sex- and age-related trends of apparent opioid-related deaths

This crisis has affected Canadians from all walks of life; however, available data indicate that there are some differences by sex and age and between the provinces and territories.

According to data reported as of August 29, 2017:

73% of apparent opioid-related deaths in 2016 occurred among males, however, this varied by province or territory (Figure 2)
although age group distribution varied by province or territory:
- the highest percentage (28%) of apparent opioid-related deaths in 2016 occurred among individuals between the ages of 30 and 39 (Table 3)

Figure 2. Sex distribution of apparent opioid-related deaths by province or territory, 2016. Text description follows. — **Figure 2. Sex distribution of apparent opioid-related deaths by province or territory, 2016.**

Province or territory	Percentage that are male	Percentage that are female
British Columbia^{Table 3 footnote 1}	80	20
Alberta^{Table 3 footnote 2}	73	27
Saskatchewan^{Table 3 footnote 3}	58	42
Manitoba	58	42
Ontario^{Table 3 footnote 4}	69	31
Quebec^{Table 3 footnote 5}	64	36
New Brunswick^{Table 3 footnote 6}	52	48
Nova Scotia	66	34
Prince Edward Island^{Table 3 footnote 7}	Suppressed	Suppressed
Newfoundland and Labrador^{Table 3 footnote 8}	56	44
Yukon^{Table 3 footnote 9}	Suppressed	Suppressed
Northwest Territories	80	20
Nunavut	Not applicable	Not applicable
Total	73	27
Table 3 long desc footnote 1 British Columbia reports unintentional deaths related to all illicit drugs including, but not limited to, opioids. Return to Table 3 footnote 1 referrer Table 3 footnote 2 Alberta reports unintentional apparent opioid-related deaths only. Return to Table 3 footnote 2 referrer Table 3 footnote 3 Saskatchewan reports on closed/certified cases only. Updates to historical data will be provided in subsequent reports. Return to Table 3 footnote 3 referrer Table 3 footnote 4 Ontario data reported here on age groups may differ from those reported by the province due to the use of alternate age groupings. Return to Table 3 footnote 4 referrer Table 3 footnote 5 Quebec data for individuals 19 years and younger were not available. Quebec data were available for closed/certified cases only. 44% of the cases for 2016 were still under investigation. Updates to historical data will be provided in subsequent reports. Quebec data according to the age groups presented here were not available at the time of this publication. Return to Table 3 footnote 5 referrer Table 3 footnote 6 New Brunswick data reported here may differ from published provincial reports as these reports focus on apparent opioid-related deaths that are classified as either accidental or of undetermined intent. Return to Table 3 footnote 6 referrer Table 3 footnote 7 Prince Edward Island chose to suppress counts less than five for quarterly data, and for data regarding sex and age distribution. Return to Table 3 footnote 7 referrer Table 3 footnote 8 Newfoundland and Labrador chose to suppress counts less than five. Return to Table 3 footnote 8 referrer Table 3 footnote 9 Yukon chose to suppress counts less than five. Return to Table 3 footnote 9 referrer

Table 3. Percentage of apparent opioid-related deaths by age group and province or territory, 2016.
Province or territory	Age Group
Province or territory	≤ 19	20 to 29	30 to 39	40 to 49	50 to 59	60 to 69	≥ 70
British Columbia^{Table 3 footnote 1}	2.8%	19.5%	26.7%	23.5%	22.7%	4.5%	0.3%
Alberta^{Table 3 footnote 2}	2.6%	20.8%	35.0%	17.1%	18.3%	5.5%	0.9%
Saskatchewan^{Table 3 footnote 3}	0.0%	15.6%	42.2%	10.9%	21.9%	7.8%	1.6%
Manitoba	2.9%	26.1%	31.9%	14.5%	10.1%	10.1%	4.3%
Ontario^{Table 3 footnote 4}	1.6%	17.5%	22.8%	21.3%	24.9%	9.1%	2.9%
Quebec^{Table 3 footnote 5}	^{Table 3 footnote N/A}	^{Table 3 footnote N/A}	^{Table 3 footnote N/A}	^{Table 3 footnote N/A}	^{Table 3 footnote N/A}	^{Table 3 footnote N/A}	^{Table 3 footnote N/A}
New Brunswick^{Table 3 footnote 6}	0.0%	13.8%	17.2%	27.6%	27.6%	13.8%	0.0%
Nova Scotia	1.9%	18.9%	24.5%	11.3%	18.9%	18.9%	5.7%
Prince Edward Island^{Table 3 footnote 7}	Suppressed
Newfoundland and Labrador^{Table 3 footnote 8}	Suppressed
Yukon^{Table 3 footnote 9}	Suppressed
Northwest Territories	0.0%	60.0%	0.0%	0.0%	20.0%	20.0%	0.0%
Nunavut	Not Applicable
Total	2.2%	19.3%	27.5%	20.5%	22.1%	6.9%	1.5%
Table 3 footnote 1 British Columbia reports unintentional deaths related to all illicit drugs including, but not limited to, opioids. Return to Table 3 footnote 1 referrer Table 3 footnote 2 Alberta reports unintentional apparent opioid-related deaths only. Return to Table 3 footnote 2 referrer Table 3 footnote 3 Saskatchewan reports on closed/certified cases only. Updates to historical data will be provided in subsequent reports. Return to Table 3 footnote 3 referrer Table 3 footnote 4 Ontario data reported here on age groups may differ from those reported by the province due to the use of alternate age groupings. Return to Table 3 footnote 4 referrer Table 3 footnote 5 Quebec data for individuals 19 years and younger were not available. Quebec data were available for closed/certified cases only. 44% of the cases for 2016 were still under investigation. Updates to historical data will be provided in subsequent reports. Quebec data according to the age groups presented here were not available at the time of this publication. Return to Table 3 footnote 5 referrer Table 3 footnote 6 New Brunswick data reported here may differ from published provincial reports as these reports focus on apparent opioid-related deaths that are classified as either accidental or of undetermined intent. Return to Table 3 footnote 6 referrer Table 3 footnote 7 Prince Edward Island chose to suppress counts less than five for quarterly data, and for data regarding sex and age distribution. Return to Table 3 footnote 7 referrer Table 3 footnote 8 Newfoundland and Labrador chose to suppress counts less than five. Return to Table 3 footnote 8 referrer Table 3 footnote 9 Yukon chose to suppress counts less than five. Return to Table 3 footnote 9 referrer Table 3 footnote N/A Not available Return to first Table 3 footnote N/A referrer

Fentanyl-related opioids and other substances involved in apparent opioid-related deaths

Apparent opioid-related deaths often involve a mix of substances, including one or more opioids as well as non-opioid substances. Knowing the type and/or mix of opioid and non-opioid substances involved in these deaths can help public health officials and other government agencies communicate risks and target harm-reduction efforts.

We are seeing more fentanyl involved (or detected^Footnote 1) in apparent opioid-related deaths. Available data on apparent opioid-related, or illicit drug-related^Footnote 1, deaths involving fentanyl, or where fentanyl was detected, show that:

the number of deaths more than doubled in January to March 2017 as compared to the same time period in 2016 (Table 4)
the percentage of deaths was 52% in 2016
British Columbia, Alberta, Manitoba and Ontario reported higher percentages of deaths compared to Eastern Canada (Table 5)
the death rate in 2016 ranged across the country from 0.0 to 13.8 per 100,000 population (Table 5)

Non-Opioid Substances

We can also highlight the involvement and mix of opioid and non-opioid substances in apparent opioid-related deaths. According to available data^Footnote a, in 2016 approximately 84% of apparent opioid-related deaths also involved one or more types of non-opioid substances.

Non-opioid substances were also involved in deaths involving:

only fentanyl-related opioids (74%)
only non-fentanyl related opioids (88%)
a mix of both fentanyl-related and non-fentanyl-related opioids (88%)

Data regarding the specific types of non-opioid substances that were involved are not available at this time.

Notes

Footnote a

Data were not available in these three categories from British Columbia, Saskatchewan, Quebec and Yukon, and were available from Alberta for closed cases only.

Return to footnote a referrer

Opioids and other involved drugs

Fentanyl-related opioids include:

fentanyl
carfentanil
norfentanyl
acetylfentanyl
butyrylfentanyl
furanyl-fentanyl
3-methylfentanyl
despropionyl-fentanyl

Non-fentanyl-related opioids include:

heroin
codeine
U-47700
tramadol
morphine
tapentadol
oxycodone
loperamide
meperidine
methadone
hydrocodone
normeperidine
dihydrocodeine
hydromorphone
monoacetylmorphine
buprenorphine metabolites

Other substances include, but are not limited to:

W-18
alcohol
cocaine
benzodiazepines

Table 4. Number of apparent opioid-related deaths involving fentanyl-related opioids (or where fentanyl was detected^{Note de bas de page 1}), quarterly, by province or territory, January 2016 to March 2017.
Province or territory	2016					2017
Province or territory	Jan to Mar	Apr to Jun	Jul to Sep	Oct to Dec	2016 Total	Jan to Mar
British Columbia^{Table 4 footnote 1}	123	128	119	286	656	310
Alberta^{Table 4 footnote 2}	71	85	91	121	368	122
Saskatchewan^{Table 4 footnote 3}	^{Table 4 footnote N/A}	^{Table 4 footnote N/A}	^{Table 4 footnote N/A}	^{Table 4 footnote N/A}	7	1
Manitoba	8	2	8	15	33	14
Ontario^{Table 4 footnote 4}	76	94	72	110	352	^{Table 4 footnote N/A}
Quebec^{Table 4 footnote 5}	10	9	6	2	27	^{Table 4 footnote N/A}
New Brunswick^{Table 4 footnote 6}	2	0	1	1	4	4
Nova Scotia	4	2	2	0	8	1
Prince Edward Island^{Table 4 footnote 7}	Suppressed	Suppressed	Suppressed	Suppressed	1	Suppressed
Newfoundland and Labrador^{Table 4 footnote 8}	Suppressed	Suppressed	Suppressed	Suppressed	Suppressed	^{Table 4 footnote N/A}
Yukon^{Table 4 footnote 9}	Suppressed	Suppressed	Suppressed	Suppressed	Suppressed	Suppressed
Northwest Territories	0	0	0	1	1	0
Nunavut	0	0	0	0	0	0
Table 4 footnote 1 British Columbia reports unintentional deaths related to all illicit drugs including, but not limited to opioids. British Columbia data in the 'non-fentanyl-related', 'fentanyl-related', and 'both fentanyl-related and non-fentanyl-related' opioids (with or without non-opioid substances) categories were not available at the time of this publication. However, British Columbia data on deaths related to illicit drugs where fentanyl was detected is used here as a proxy for apparent opioid-related deaths involving fentanyl. Return to Table 4 footnote 1 referrer Table 4 footnote 2 Alberta reports unintentional apparent opioid-related deaths only. Alberta data in the 'non-fentanyl-related', 'fentanyl-related', and 'both fentanyl-related and non-fentanyl-related' opioids (with or without non-opioid substances) categories represents closed/certified cases only. For Table 4 and 5, Alberta data regarding deaths involving fentanyl-related opioids includes both open and closed/certified cases. Return to Table 4 footnote 2 referrer Table 4 footnote 3 Saskatchewan data in the 'non-fentanyl-related', 'fentanyl-related', and 'both fentanyl-related and non-fentanyl-related' opioids (with or without non-opioid substances) categories were not available at the time of this publication. Return to Table 4 footnote 3 referrer Table 4 footnote 4 Ontario data regarding 'non-opioid substances' for the 'non-fentanyl-related', 'fentanyl-related', and 'both fentanyl-related and non-fentanyl'-related opioids categories do not include alcohol as one of the non-opioid substances. Return to Table 4 footnote 4 referrer Table 4 footnote 5 Quebec data for individuals 19 years and younger were not available at the time of this publication. Quebec data were available for closed/certified cases only; 44% of the cases for 2016 were still under investigation. Updates to historical data will be provided in subsequent reports. Quebec data in the 'non-fentanyl-related', 'fentanyl-related', and 'both fentanyl-related and non-fentanyl-related' opioids (with or without non-opioid substances) categories were not available as data reported represents the single 'chiefly responsible' drug only. Return to Table 4 footnote 5 referrer Table 4 footnote 6 New Brunswick data reported here may differ from published provincial reports as these reports focus on apparent opioid-related deaths that are classified as either accidental or of undetermined intent. Return to Table 4 footnote 6 referrer Table 4 footnote 7 Prince Edward Island reports unintentional deaths only. Prince Edward Island chose to suppress quarterly counts less than five in the 'non-fentanyl-related', 'fentanyl-related', and 'both fentanyl-related and non-fentanyl-related' opioids (with or without non-opioid substances) categories. Return to Table 4 footnote 7 referrer Table 4 footnote 8 Newfoundland and Labrador chose to suppress counts less than five. Return to Table 4 footnote 8 referrer Table 4 footnote 9 Yukon chose to suppress counts less than five. Return to Table 4 footnote 9 referrer Table 4 footnote N/A Not available Return to first Table 4 footnote N/A referrer

Table 5. Number, percentage, and death rate (per 100,000 population) of apparent opioid-related deaths involving fentanyl-related opioids (or where fentanyl was detected^{Note de bas de page 1}), by province or territory, 2016.
Province or territory	Number	Percentage	Death rate per 100,000 population
British Columbia^{Table 5 footnote 1}	656	67%	13.8
Alberta^{Table 5 footnote 2}	368	63%	8.7
Saskatchewan^{Table 5 footnote 3}	7	11%	0.6
Manitoba	33	48%	2.5
Ontario^{Table 5 footnote 4}	352	41%	2.5
Quebec^{Table 5 footnote 5}	27	19%	0.3
New Brunswick^{Table 5 footnote 6}	4	14%	0.5
Nova Scotia	8	15%	0.8
Prince Edward Island^{Table 5 footnote 7}	1	20%	0.7
Newfoundland and Labrador^{Table 5 footnote 8}	Suppressed	Suppressed	Suppressed
Yukon^{Table 5 footnote 9}	Suppressed	Suppressed	Suppressed
Northwest Territories	1	20%	2.2
Nunavut	0	Not Applicable	0.0
Table 5 footnote 1 British Columbia reports unintentional deaths related to all illicit drugs including, but not limited to, opioids. British Columbia data in the 'non-fentanyl-related', 'fentanyl-related', and 'both fentanyl-related and non-fentanyl-related' opioids (with or without non-opioid substances) categories were not available at the time of this publication. However, British Columbia data on deaths related to illicit drugs where fentanyl was detected is used here as a proxy for apparent opioid-related deaths involving fentanyl. Return to Table 5 footnote 1 referrer Table 5 footnote 2 Alberta reports unintentional apparent opioid-related deaths only. Alberta data in the 'non-fentanyl-related', 'fentanyl-related', and 'both fentanyl-related and non-fentanyl-related' opioids (with or without non-opioid substances) categories represents closed/certified cases only. For Table 4 and 5, Alberta data regarding deaths involving fentanyl-related opioids includes both open and closed/certified cases. Return to Table 5 footnote 2 referrer Table 5 footnote 3 Saskatchewan data in the 'non-fentanyl-related', 'fentanyl-related', and 'both fentanyl-related and non-fentanyl-related' opioids (with or without non-opioid substances) categories were not available at the time of this publication. Return to Table 5 footnote 3 referrer Table 5 footnote 4 Ontario data regarding ‘non-opioid substances’ for the ‘non-fentanyl-related’, ‘fentanyl-related’, and ‘both fentanyl-related and non-fentanyl’-related opioids categories do not include alcohol as one of the non-opioid substances. Return to Table 5 footnote 4 referrer Table 5 footnote 5 Quebec data for individuals 19 years and younger were not available at the time of this publication. Quebec data were available for closed/certified cases only; 44% of the cases for 2016 were still under investigation. Updates to historical data will be provided in subsequent reports. Quebec data in the 'non-fentanyl-related', 'fentanyl-related', and 'both fentanyl-related and non-fentanyl-related' opioids (with or without non-opioid substances) categories were not available as data reported represents the single 'chiefly responsible' drug only. Return to Table 5 footnote 5 referrer Table 5 footnote 6 New Brunswick data reported here may differ from published provincial reports as these reports focus on apparent opioid-related deaths that are classified as either accidental or of undetermined intent. Return to Table 5 footnote 6 referrer Table 5 footnote 7 Prince Edward Island reports unintentional deaths only. Prince Edward Island chose to suppress quarterly counts less than five in the ‘non-fentanyl-related’, ‘fentanyl-related’, and ‘both fentanyl-related and non-fentanyl-related' opioids (with or without non-opioid substances) categories. Return to Table 5 footnote 7 referrer Table 5 footnote 8 Newfoundland and Labrador chose to suppress counts less than five. Return to Table 5 footnote 8 referrer Table 5 footnote 9 Yukon chose to suppress counts less than five. Return to Table 5 footnote 9 referrer Table 5 footnote N/A Not available Return to first Table 5 footnote N/A referrer

Definition of apparent opioid-related death

An apparent opioid-related death is a death caused by intoxication/toxicity (poisoning) as a result of drug use, where one or more of the drugs is an opioid.

The term "opioid-related death" is used instead of "opioid overdose death" in order to avoid any suggestion that all the deaths were intentional, which is sometimes associated with the term "overdose".

How apparent opioid-related deaths are counted

The data include:

open (preliminary) and closed (certified) cases, unless specified
non-natural manners of death (both intentional and unintentional, unless specified)
individuals with or without personal prescriptions

The data do not include deaths due to:

chronic substance use (for example, the medical consequences of long term use or overuse of an exogenous (external) substance(s), such as alcoholic cirrhosis)
medical assistance in dying
trauma where an exogenous (external) substance contributed to the circumstances of the injury

Limitations of these apparent opioid-related deaths data

Data presented in this report must be interpreted with caution.

This report is based on data submitted to the Public Health Agency of Canada on or before August 29, 2017. New or revised data submitted after this date will be reflected in future updates.

Data released by provinces and territories after this date may differ from the data provided here.

As some data are based on ongoing investigations by coroners and medical examiners, they are considered preliminary and subject to change.

Data are considered closed (certified) after completion of the death investigation by the coroner/medical examiner.

The time required to complete an investigation and related administrative processes is case-dependent and can range from approximately 3 to 24 months.

Rates reported here have not been age-standardized and therefore have not been adjusted for existing differences in provincial and territorial age distributions.

Rates for jurisdictions with relatively small populations may change substantially with even small changes in counts.

This report does not distinguish between prescription and non-prescription drugs or pharmaceutical and non-pharmaceutical fentanyl.

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Date modified:: 2020-03-20

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National report: Apparent opioid-related deaths in Canada (January 2016 to March 2017)

Summary

National and regional trends of apparent opioid-related deaths

Notes

Sex- and age-related trends of apparent opioid-related deaths

Fentanyl-related opioids and other substances involved in apparent opioid-related deaths

Non-Opioid Substances

Notes

Opioids and other involved drugs

Fentanyl-related opioids include:

Non-fentanyl-related opioids include:

Other substances include, but are not limited to:

Definition of apparent opioid-related death

How apparent opioid-related deaths are counted

Limitations of these apparent opioid-related deaths data

Page details

National report: Apparent opioid-related deaths in Canada (January 2016 to March 2017)

We have archived this page and will not be updating it.

We have archived this page and will not be updating it.

Summary

National and regional trends of apparent opioid-related deaths

Notes

Sex- and age-related trends of apparent opioid-related deaths

Fentanyl-related opioids and other substances involved in apparent opioid-related deaths

Non-Opioid Substances

Notes

Opioids and other involved drugs

Fentanyl-related opioids include:

Non-fentanyl-related opioids include:

Other substances include, but are not limited to:

Definition of apparent opioid-related death

How apparent opioid-related deaths are counted

Limitations of these apparent opioid-related deaths data

Page details