National Quarterly Update on Opioid Harms

Today, the Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC) released their National Quarterly Update on Opioid and Stimulant-related Harms in Canada.

Tragically, the report has found that, based on the available data, there have been 5,369 apparent opioid toxicity deaths during the first 9 months of 2021 (January – September 2021) and 26,691 deaths between January 2016 and September 2021. 88% of all accidental apparent opioid toxicity deaths occurred in British Columbia, Alberta or Ontario. Please note that these national figures exclude data from Manitoba. Minister Bennett has published a statement on this report, which you can find here.

This is heartbreaking news. These are not just numbers. They are beloved friends and family, community members, and coworkers.

It needs to be recognized that problematic substance use is a public health issue, not an issue for the criminal justice system. We are working to divert people who use drugs away from the criminal justice system and towards supportive and trusted relationships in health and social services. Our multifaceted approach builds on previous action to address the opioid overdose crisis, including investments of over $700M in community-led harm reduction, treatment and prevention projects.

The evidence is clear – harm reduction measures save lives. Supervised consumption sites have reversed 35,000 overdoses since 2017, without a single death on site. Our Government has invested over 63 million dollars to expand access to a safe supply of prescription opioids. We have also increased access to life saving naloxone across the country. Our Government will use every tool at our disposal to end this national public health crisis.

The numbers released today are heartbreaking, and we empathize with the grief felt by friends, families, and communities that have lost loved ones.