Highly addictive opioids are the leading cause of death in Canada, according to the government.
Fentanyl is increasingly following opioid overdose deaths in Canada, according to new government data.
The National Institutes of Health on Monday reported that nearly 50,000 people in North America died from opioid overdoses from January 2016 to June 2024.
Meanwhile, fentanyl, a highly addictive synthetic opioid sometimes prescribed for pain relief, accounted for 49,105 deaths.
Meanwhile, the number of fentanyl deaths has increased, according to the data, accounting for 79 percent of opioid deaths so far this year. That’s a 39 percent increase from 2016.
The information was released just weeks before United States President-elect Donald Trump entered the White House.
President Trump’s position has drawn attention to the opioid crisis in North America, with the president-elect threatening to impose 25 percent tariffs on Canada and Mexico if neighbors do not do more to stem the flow of drugs and undocumented immigrants crossing into the US. .
The Canadian government last week announced a slew of new border measures aimed at allaying Trump’s concerns, even if the president’s claims don’t exactly follow the details.
US Customs and Border Protection reported that less than 20kg of fentanyl was seized at the US-Canada border in 2023.
Nevertheless, Canadian authorities have warned of the increase in domestic production of fentanyl in the country, where the law focuses more on the chemical precursors used to make the substance.
Canada’s Department of Foreign Affairs said the seizure of Canadian-made fentanyl in the US, Australia and other countries shows that domestic production exceeds demand and that Canada has become a net exporter of fentanyl.
The overall rate of opioid overdoses has decreased compared to last year, according to Health Canada.
Health Canada said an average of 21 people have died each day from opioid overdoses so far this year – an 11 per cent decrease from 2023.
However, the agency cautioned that the numbers are preliminary and subject to change.
“We must remain cautious when drawing conclusions about trends for 2024,” the statement said.
“The rate of opioid- and stimulant-related harm remains very high.”
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