Nearly 50,000 people in Canada have died from opioid overdoses since the crisis began in early 2016, according to public health authorities. The synthetic opioid fentanyl, significantly more potent than heroin or morphine, has played a growing role in these deaths.
Fentanyl, 50 times stronger than heroin and 100 times stronger than morphine, has fueled a major health crisis in the United States. Over the past five years, Canada has become increasingly involved in its production and export, though experts note the country remains a minor player globally.
Between January and June 2024, fentanyl was implicated in 79% of overdose deaths in Canada, a sharp rise from 39% in 2016, according to the Public Health Agency of Canada. Despite an average of 21 overdose deaths daily in the first half of the year—a figure representing an 11% decline compared to the same period in 2023—authorities warn the crisis remains severe.
Mental Health and Addictions Minister Ya’ara Saks described the situation as a “tragic public health crisis,” emphasizing the absence of a one-size-fits-all solution. “The rates remain at extremely high levels,” she said in a statement, calling for continued efforts to combat the epidemic.
