More than 7,000 people died of a drug-overdose in 2024.
Public Health Canada reports that it is a 17% decrease from 2023.
There were also 5,514 hospitalizations, 36,266 responses by emergency medical services and 24,587 emergency department visits related to the use of substance.
British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan, Ontario, New Brunswick are among provinces reporting decreases, while Nova Scotia, Manitoba and Prince Edward Island saw little or no change to their numbers.
The Council of Chief Medical Officers of Health says the decline may be related to the drug supply not being as lethal as it has been.
“Some provincial and territorial public health partners note that the decrease in deaths may be attributable- at least in part- to a shift to lower toxicity of the drug supply, based on drug checking data indicating a decrease in fentanyl concentrations,” a statement reads.
Some Medical Officers of Health also report that while some regions have seen fewer opioid-related deaths, there has been a rising in deaths caused by other substances such as stimulants and medication used to treat anxiety and stress.
“The drug toxicity crisis is complex, and continued coordinated efforts between multi-sectoral partners are key to save lives and improve population health,” the Council states.
There has been work since 2016 on a national surveillance system to better understand the drug toxicity crisis and its impact on Canadian communities.
“Ongoing collaboration is essential to identify emerging needs, protective and risk factors, and to assess health inequities experienced by those disproportionately impacted by this urgent crisis.”
