Even though opioid-related drug toxic deaths have declined by 17% from the previous year, an average of 20 Canadians say they have died from opioid overdose every day.
Data released Wednesday by the Canadian Public Health Agency for 2024 showed that 7,146 deaths were recorded last year. 80% of them occurred in just three provinces: British Columbia, Alberta and Ontario, all three have fallen since 2023.
According to a joint statement from the nation's Chief Medical Officer, Chief Medical Examiner and Chief Inspector, the state of Quebec, the Northwest Region, and Quebec in Newfoundland and Labrador, reported an increase in deaths in 2024.
“Because of colonization and alienation, many Indigenous communities are experiencing an increase in death and disproportionate harm, especially among Indigenous women,” the statement said.
Manitoba, Nova Scotia and Prince Edward Island saw “little or no change” of death between 2023 and 2024, but all other states and territories fell.
Hospitalizations related to opioid addiction also fell by 15% in 2024, with 5,514 patients nationwide. Last year, emergency first responders received 24,587 emergency room visits and 36,266 responses for suspected opioid-related overdose, both of which meant a decline of about 15%.
A statement from health officials said several states and territories believe the decline in deaths “may be at least partially due to the transition to a lower drug supply,” based on drug check data showing a decrease in fentanyl concentrations.
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According to the data, fentanyl accounted for about three-quarters of all opioid-related deaths in 2024. That rate is slightly above 40% in 2016, but it appears to have been stable in recent years.
Between January 2016 and December 2024, a total of 52,544 obvious opioid toxic deaths were reported, according to federal data.
“In 2024, an average of 20 people died every day from Canadian opioid toxicity, representing a huge loss,” the statement on Wednesday said.
“In particular, some regions have reported an increase in deaths that contain non-opioid substances, such as stimulants and benzodiazepines.”
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Overdose deaths in the US also fell double digits last year.
An estimated 80,000 people died from overdose last year, according to the Interim Center for Disease Control and Prevention Data, released in May. This is a 27% decrease from 110,000 in 2023, the largest year-on-year decline ever recorded.
Public health and drug policy experts have attributed to an increased availability of naloxone, an overreversal drug for addiction by young people, to an increased number of addiction treatments, and a sharp decline in the transition from drugs by young people.
These experts also point to an increase in the impact of more than US$50 billion in funds through litigation settlements against litigation houses against opioid makers such as Purdue Pharma and consulting firms that say they are alleging drug makers on how the US can boost the sale of advice drug makers.
Several states direct their funds towards recovery of healthcare costs and offer funding addiction treatment programs, overdose prevention sites, anti-drug education and other initiatives.
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The latest such settlement reached between 55 U.S. and Territory Attorney Generals and Purdue earlier this month. Local governments and individual victims must approve the settlement until September 30th.
Deciding a public health emergency in 2016 due to the overdose crisis, BC led several similar class action lawsuits on behalf of federal, state and territorial governments against drugmakers. The settlement, first announced in 2022, won $150 million from Purdue, and this year an additional lawsuit was found in court.
McKinsey denied doing anything in Canada to enhance opioid sales or marketing. The Canadian lawsuit against the company alleges that Purdue and other drug makers used the same tactics that are allegedly advised by American company McKinsey.
– Includes files from Associated Press
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