Opioid deaths in Canada fell 17% in 2024, but thousands are still dying – CBC

Opioids in drug supply called a generation-defining health crisis

Aug 21, 2025

Reported opioids deaths decreased nationally in Canada by 17 per cent last year, federal figures show, but the decreases aren’t happening uniformly across the country, according to a new report.

The Public Health Agency of Canada released the most recent data on opioid toxicity deaths showing in 2024, 20 people on average lost their lives per day. In 2023, the average was 22 deaths per day. The grim toll last year was 7,146 lives lost.

On Thursday, the Canadian Centre on Substance Use and Addiction (CCSA) said despite the apparent decrease, the overall number of people dying from opioids in the toxic drug supply remains very high.

It’s not known why death rates are declining in many places, though the CCSA did note there was a decrease in potent carfentanil among some samples checked, and a shift from consuming by injection to inhalation.

Read more: https://www.cbc.ca/news/health/opioid-deaths-decline-canada-1.7615255