In a data release from the federal government Monday deaths and harms from the illegal drug crisis remain higher than pre-COVID 19 levels with an average of 15 deaths per day in 2025.

The 5,608 opioid related deaths between January and December last year is a 23 per cent decrease compared to the year prior. And while stimulant related deaths also decreased by 31 per cent nationally, multiple jurisdictions including Saskatchewan, Manitoba, Ontario, New Brunswick, Newfoundland and Labrador and the Northwest Territories reported higher number of stimulant related deaths compared to opioid related deaths in 2025.

Though opioid-related hospitalizations and emergency department visits also decreased in 2025, by 12 per cent and 5 per cent respectively, there was a 9 per cent increase in EMS responses. The federal government says that was largely driven by a 67 per cent increase in Alberta and a 50 per cent increase in EMS responses in Saskatchewan.

The Public Health Agency of Canada suggests the upward trend in both provinces may be driven by the increased presence of fentanyl analogues, medetomidine and benzodiazepines in the unregulated illegal drug supply.

An analysis also released today indicates that benzodiazepine involvement increased threefold in both the unregulated drug supply and in deaths between 2018 and 2024.