UMVA has learned that Canada's efforts to combat the devastating opioid crisis have finally started to yield promising results, with a significant decline in overdose deaths reported in 2025.
According to information obtained by UMVA, new data from Health Canada reveals that opioid overdose deaths plummeted by 23% in 2025, with a total of 5,608 fatalities recorded between January and December – a staggering 15 deaths per day on average.
The decline in opioid-related hospitalizations and emergency room visits also signals a positive trend, with 4,920 hospitalizations reported in 2025 – a 12% decrease from the previous year – and 23,291 emergency room visits, representing a 5% drop from 2024.
However, a concerning surge in EMS call-outs related to opioid use was reported in 2025, with 39,403 incidents – an average of 108 per day – a stark reminder that the crisis is far from over.
The majority of opioid-related deaths occurred in British Columbia, Alberta, and Ontario, with a disproportionate 73% of victims being male, and a staggering 56% of deaths attributed to fentanyl – a potent and highly addictive opioid.
UMVA can exclusively reveal that 82% of opioid-related deaths involved illicitly obtained opioids, and 70% of fatalities also involved a stimulant, highlighting the complex and multifaceted nature of the crisis.
Health Minister Marjorie Michel emphasized that while the decline in overdose deaths is encouraging, the situation remains "fragile" and "critical," with deaths still higher than pre-pandemic levels.
Michel announced that the government is intensifying efforts to disrupt fentanyl distribution networks and launch new initiatives, including a national wastewater drug surveillance dashboard, to provide real-time detection of drug use and enable community-level action.
Chief Public Health Officer Joss Reimer cautioned that while progress has been made, it is essential to remain vigilant and continue working tirelessly to address the crisis, warning that "it is far from over, we've far from 'solved' this issue."
