Province sees big drop in opioid-related death rates as northern Ontario maintains highest numbers – CBC

Data comes same week separate drug alerts issued in Thunder Bay, Kenora

May 14, 2026

Opioid-related death rates have dropped by more than 50 per cent in Ontario since 2021, according to the latest report from the Office of the Chief Coroner.

Still, northern Ontario has consistently seen the highest rates in the province as advocates and health-care experts report increasingly toxic drugs in street supplies.

In 2025, the provincial mortality rate has declined by 54 per cent compared to 2021, but remains 44 per cent higher than in 2016, says the report released this week.

Thunder Bay again has the highest opioid-related death rate, at 52.72 per 100,000 population — more than five times the provincial rate of 8.96.

Northern Ontario communities comprise three of the top five death rates, with North Bay third at 30.83 and Greater Sudbury fourth at 28.36.

Read more: https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/thunder-bay/opioid-death-rates-northern-ontario-9.7199688