Opioid-Related Harms in Canada

December 2018 — Canada is in the midst of an opioid crisis. A new CIHI analysis shows that opioid poisoning hospitalization rates continue to increase across Canada. Communities with populations between 50,000 and 99,999 are hardest hit, experiencing the highest per capita hospitalization rates in the country.

Other key findings of CIHI’s new analysis

  • Opioid poisoning hospitalization rates have increased 27% over the past 5 years.
  • Between 2016 and 2017, opioid poisoning hospitalization rates went up by 8%, resulting in an average of 17 hospitalizations each day.
  • Between 2016 and 2017, rates of emergency department visits due to opioid poisoning rose in Ontario and Alberta by 73% and 23%, respectively.

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Learn more about CIHI’s findings as 2 front-line workers share their views on Canada’s opioid crisis

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