Fentanyl is increasingly behind opioid overdose deaths in Canada, according to new government data.
The national health agency on Monday reported that nearly 50,000 people in the North American country died from opioid overdose deaths from January 2016 to June 2024.
During that time, fentanyl, a highly addictive synthetic opioid commonly given for pain management, was responsible for 49,105 deaths.
Meanwhile, the numbers show that fentanyl deaths have skyrocketed, accounting for 79 percent of opioid deaths this year. That is a 39% increase since 2016.
The data was released just weeks before US President-elect Donald Trump takes office.
Trump’s imminent presidency has brought renewed focus to North America’s opioid issue, with the president-elect threatening to levy 25% tariffs on Canada and Mexico if they do not do more to prevent the flow of drugs and undocumented migrants into the US.
The Canadian government last week revealed a slew of additional border safeguards targeted at allaying Trump’s anxieties, even if the president-elect’s allegations do not fully match the evidence.
US Customs and Border Protection reported that fewer than 20kg of fentanyl was captured at the US-Canada border in 2023.
Nonetheless, Canadian authorities have warned of an increase in domestic fentanyl production in the country, with law enforcement focussing more on the chemical precursors used to manufacture the narcotic.
According to Canada’s foreign ministry, the seizure of Canadian-made fentanyl in the United States, Australia, and other countries shows that domestic production surpasses demand, and the country has become a net fentanyl exporter.
The total rate of opioid overdoses has decreased compared to last year, according to Health Canada.
According to Health Canada, an average of 21 individuals have died each day this year from suspected opioid overdoses, representing an 11 percent decrease from 2023 levels.
However, the agency cautioned that the figures are preliminary and liable to change.
“We must remain cautious in drawing conclusions about the trends for 2024,” it stated in a statement.
“The extent of opioid and stimulant-related harms remains very high.”
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