Opioids in Canada
The opioid crisis is a complex health and social issue with devastating consequences for individuals, families and communities. Between January 2016 and March 2019, an estimated 12,800 Canadians died from an apparent opioid-related overdose, .
In 2015, ºìÁì½í¹Ï±¨received 4 years of targeted funding from ºìÁì½í¹Ï±¨ Canada to establish key metrics and publicly report data on opioid use and harms across the country. This funding agreement ended on March 31, 2019, and the last opioid-specific report was released in October 2019. Learn more about some of our work below.
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Opioid prescribing
Opioid prescribing practices are changing across Canada. Fewer people are starting opioid prescriptions and using opioids long term. This report, published in October 2019, presents trends in opioid prescribing in Ontario, Manitoba, Saskatchewan and British Columbia from 2013 to 2018 and discusses findings within the context of initiatives and guidelines aimed at reducing harms associated with prescription opioid use.
Additional resources
Opioid-Related Harms in Canada
Opioid poisonings are on the rise in Canada — between 2012 and 2017, hospitalization rates increased by 27%. In this latest report, we take a closer look at the rates of hospital stays and emergency department visits due to opioid poisonings, and at how rural and small communities across Canada are affected.
Related resources
How to cite:
Canadian Institute for ºìÁì½í¹Ï±¨ Information. Opioids in Canada. Accessed April 5, 2025.
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