Canada has seen substantially elevated numbers of opioid-related deaths and other harms since national surveillance began in 2016 by the Public Health Agency of Canada. This public health crisis is having a tragic impact on people who use substances, their families, and communities across the country, and is shaped by a wide range of factors. The COVID-19 pandemic may have exacerbated the crisis, as several jurisdictions reported higher rates of fatal overdoses and other harms following the onset of the pandemic.

Presented here are the most recent available data on opioid- and stimulant-related overdoses and deaths in Canada, where available. For more details on additional studies and other products related to the overdose crisis, refer to the Data, surveillance and research page.