Canada's Toxic Drug Deaths Drop 23 Percent
Opioid-related deaths fell to 5,608 in 2025 from higher 2024 levels; stimulant deaths also declined significantly.
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Canada recorded 5,608 opioid-related deaths in 2025, a 23 percent decrease from 2024 and an average of 15 deaths per day, according to a statement Monday from Federal Health Minister Marjorie Michel.
Stimulant-related deaths dropped even more sharply, declining 31 percent at the national level year-over-year. Opioid-related hospitalizations and emergency department visits also fell—12 percent and 5 percent respectively—though Emergency Medical Service responses increased by 9 percent.
"Drugs circulating on the Canadian illegal market are contaminated and very toxic, making the risk of overdose extremely high," the statement said. "That said, due to a combination of factors, Canada saw a relative decrease in deaths last year."
The minister cited several contributing factors: shifts in the unregulated illegal drug supply, wider access to naloxone and other harm reduction measures, and a smaller population at risk of overdose.