Drug Poisonings Spike Sharply Across Calgary
Calgary outreach groups are sounding an alarm over a four-fold increase in drug poisonings this spring, with the Drop-In Centre responding to 20 overdoses daily in April—up from five a year ago.
Drug poisonings are accelerating at an alarming rate in Calgary, with harm-reduction workers and outreach groups raising urgent concerns about what they're seeing on the streets.
According to the Calgary Drop-In Centre, April 2026 saw a staggering four-fold increase in drug poisoning responses compared to the same month last year. The centre reported an average of 20 poisonings per day in April—a dramatic jump from the five per day they were handling in April 2025. David Sawatsky, the centre's chief operating officer, called the spike "huge," signaling that something significant has shifted in the city's drug supply.
The surge points to a deeper crisis in street drug quality and composition, likely driven by the ongoing contamination of the illicit supply with synthetic opioids like fentanyl and increasingly potent substances that even experienced users may not anticipate. Outreach workers are stretched thin, and the spike comes at a time when harm-reduction funding remains inadequate relative to the scale of the problem.
Calgary's public health officials have not yet announced a coordinated response, though the Drop-In Centre and similar organizations are calling for increased resources, more naloxone distribution, and accessible treatment options. For those struggling with substance use, the takeaway is clear: the street supply right now is genuinely dangerous, and connection to services is more critical than ever.