Joint Statement from the Co-Chairs of the Special Advisory Committee on Toxic Drug Poisonings – Latest National Data on Substance-Related Harms
2024-12-23 17:00
Ottawa, ON – The Co-Chairs of the Government of Canada’s Special Advisory Committee on Toxic Drug Poisonings, Dr. Theresa Tam, Chief Public Health Officer of Canada, and Dr. Evan Wood, Senior Medical Advisor at the British Columbia Centre for Disease Control, issued the following joint statement today:
“We are deeply concerned about the latest national data on substance-related harms, which show that the toxic drug poisoning crisis continues to have a devastating impact on Canadians.
In 2022, there were an estimated 2,462 apparent opioid toxicity deaths in Canada, a 17% increase from the previous year. This means that an average of seven people died every day from apparent opioid toxicity in 2022.
The data also shows that the proportion of deaths involving fentanyl and fentanyl analogues continues to increase. In 2022, fentanyl was detected in 84% of apparent opioid toxicity deaths, up from 82% in 2021.
The toxic drug poisoning crisis is a complex issue with many contributing factors, including the COVID-19 pandemic, the ongoing overdose crisis, and the emergence of new and more potent drugs.
The Government of Canada is committed to taking action to address this crisis. We are working with our partners to:
- Increase access to life-saving harm reduction services, such as overdose prevention sites and naloxone
- Expand access to treatment and recovery services
- Address the underlying social and economic factors that contribute to substance use
- Strengthen law enforcement efforts to disrupt the illicit drug supply
We urge all Canadians to learn more about the toxic drug poisoning crisis and to take steps to protect themselves and their loved ones.
There are many resources available to help people who are struggling with substance use, including:
- The Canadian Drug Summary
- The Drug and Alcohol Helpline
- The Mental Health Commission of Canada
We are grateful for the hard work of all of the individuals and organizations who are working to address the toxic drug poisoning crisis. We know that there is more work to be done, but we are committed to working together to save lives and build a healthier future for all Canadians.”
For more information, please contact:
Health Canada Media Relations 613-957-2983
Related links:
- Government of Canada’s response to the toxic drug poisoning crisis
- Canadian Drug Summary
- Drug and Alcohol Helpline
- Mental Health Commission of Canada
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