Opioid deaths dropped across Canada last year. Alberta’s decline was comparatively small – CBC

Alberta reported slight drop in deaths, steep rise in EMS responses

Jun 22, 2026

When Canadian health officials expressed “cautious optimism” last week about declining opioid toxicity deaths, two out of the three provinces that account for most of the country’s deaths could report the same trend.

But that figure looks different in Alberta.

Nationally, 5,630 opioid overdose deaths were reported last year, a 23-per-cent drop from the year before. Canada’s health minister called it “real progress.” Ontario, British Columbia and Alberta together account for nearly 80 per cent of those deaths.

But while Ontario (38 per cent fewer opioid toxicity deaths last year) and B.C.’s declines (22 per cent) largely matched the national trend, Alberta saw a much smaller drop of just four per cent.

Read more: https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/calgary/opioid-toxicity-deaths-trend-alberta-9.7242807