Canada's opioid crisis - Statistics & Facts
Much like its neighbor to the south, Canada is currently struggling with an opioid overdose crisis. Although the crisis in Canada has not reached the levels of harm that have come to define the opioid epidemic in the United States, opioid abuse and overdose remain relevant and growing problems in Canada and have only been made worse by the COVID-19 pandemic. As with the United States, the opioid crisis in Canada began with a rise in opioid prescriptions and is now driven by powerful illegally manufactured synthetic opioids such as fentanyl. Although opioid prescriptions have declined in response to the crisis, illegally manufactured synthetic opioids like fentanyl and its analogues now often find their way into many illegal drugs. Fentanyl can be deadly in even small amounts and is now involved in most accidental overdose deaths. In 2016, there were a total of 2,827 deaths from opioid overdose in Canada. In 2022, this number increased to around 7,328, with the vast majority of deaths accidental in nature. The opioid crisis has been a major topic of discussion in Canada in recent years, but was recently overshadowed by the COVID-19 pandemic. However, a survey from 2021 found that around 45 percent of Canadians felt opioid use was a major problem in their community, while 31 percent felt it was a minor problem. Only nine percent of respondents stated opioid use was not a problem in their community.
