Manitoba has highest rate of stimulant toxicity deaths in Canada: data
On Thursday, the Government of Canada released information regarding toxic drug poisonings in the country, showing that Canada has seen a climb in deaths from 2016 to 2024.
Last year, Manitoba had the highest rate of stimulant drug-related deaths in the country, coming in at 30 deaths per 100,000 people. The numbers show that this amounted to 448 deaths in 2024, which is up from 412 deaths in 2023 and 317 deaths in 2022.
When it comes to opioid toxicity deaths, Manitoba's 2024 crude rate was 24.8 per 100,000 people. This is the third highest rate in the country, with only British Columbia and the Yukon seeing higher rates.
In terms of the numbers, 371 people died from opioid-related deaths in Manitoba last year. Though this number is down slightly from 382 deaths in 2023, it's still up substantially from when the Public Health Agency of Canada first began its tracking.
When national surveillance started in 2016, there were 88 opioid toxicity deaths in the province, followed by 106 in 2017. The province saw a major jump in 2020 when it went up to 233 deaths, and the numbers only continued to climb from there.
How does Manitoba compare?
Manitoba falls somewhat in line with what is being seen across the rest of the country.
In 2024, there were 7,146 opioid toxicity deaths across Canada and 3,931 stimulant-related deaths. Both numbers are down from the year prior, however, the data shows the country has seen a distinct rise in both opioid and stimulant-related deaths since 2020.
In a statement, the provincial and territorial chief coroners, medical officers and medical examiners said Canada's overdose crisis is one of the biggest public health issues Canada has ever faced. The statement noted that though there was a drop in deaths in 2024, an average of 20 people died every day from opioid toxicity in Canada last year.
'All aspects of our strategies to respond to the drug toxicity crisis should be population and person-centered,' it said.
'This includes working together across prevention, treatment, harm reduction, and enforcement to provide solutions. The drug toxicity crisis is complex, and continued coordinated efforts between multi-sectoral partners are key to save lives and improve population health.'
The full set of data can be found online.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
CTV News
24 minutes ago
- CTV News
E-scooter injuries on the rise; doctors preach caution this summer
Medical experts are warning Canadians to slow down and plan ahead amidst a rise in e-scooter injuries across the country. Medical experts are warning Canadians to slow down and plan ahead amidst a rise in e-scooter injuries across the country. Data from the Canadian Institute for Health Information (CIHI) shows hospitalizations related to e-scooter injuries rose 22 per cent in Canada during the 12-month period starting April 1, 2023. In that time, 992 Canadian riders had to see a doctor—including 234 Albertans. 'We've been seeing people who are intoxicated with either alcohol or drugs and they're double-riding, overestimating their skill or underestimating the speed they're going,' said Dr. Raj Bhardwaj, urgent care physician. 'And then we see big collisions: with cars, pedestrians, curbs, light poles, things like that. That's where the big trauma comes in.' Bhardwaj says in Calgary, the most common e-scooter injuries he treats are fractures—typically broken wrists or ankles. But some injuries go far beyond that. 'We've seen broken jaws, total facial smashes where people have a lot of dental work to get done, spine injuries, sometimes neck injuries,' he said. 'We've also seen liver lacerations and spleen lacerations.' Bhardwaj says the CIHI data doesn't paint the entire picture, as some riders don't admit themselves to the hospital after a crash. Rider Jan Lopez says she understands the injury uptick. 'More inexperienced people are riding the e-scooters and just don't understand the dangers,' Lopez told CTV News Calgary. 'One wrong move—one awkward rock in the wrong place—and you can easily fall. 'It looks just like a fun toy that you can play around with, but they're actually really dangerous.' E-scooter companies recommend helmets. Some brands—like Neuron in Calgary—even come equipped with the headgear. Bhardwaj advocates for sober and single riding. He also wants to see further development of infrastructure to accommodate an influx of new users. 'If we want to make the scooter safer, we need to make traffic safer,' he said. 'We need to make more bike lanes and more multi-use paths, and then the scooters aren't hitting people on the sidewalk, and they're not hitting cars on the road or being hit by cars on the road.' The physician also urges new riders to practice navigating e-scooters on pathways out of high-traffic areas before heading to busy spots. 'Spend the money to learn for five minutes first,' he said. 'We see a lot of first-time users get injured because they're just not familiar with it.'
CTV News
25 minutes ago
- CTV News
Possible Hepatitis A exposure in Tecumseh
The Windsor-Essex County Health Unit (WECHU) is alerting the public of a potential Hepatitis A exposure in Tecumseh. If you were at Fratelli's Pasta Grill at 13340 Lanoue Street in Tecumseh at any point from Aug. 1 to 6 and aren't vaccinated against Hepatitis A, you may be at risk. WECHU said you could still be eligible for a vaccine and it is doing a walk-in vaccine clinic until 6:30 p.m. on Tuesday. That is being done at 1005 Ouellette Avenue in Windsor. If that doesn't work, you can get treatment by appointment until Aug. 20. To do so, call 519-258-2146 extension 1420. You are asked to bring your immunization record. If you ate at Fratelli's, you should monitor for symptoms up to 50 days after. Symptoms of Hepatitis A include: Fever Dark urine Loss of appetite Feeling tired Nausea and vomiting Stomach cramps Jaundice WECHU said the best way to prevent Hepatitis A is to get vaccinated within 14 days of exposure. The specific dates to note are July 19 and 20 between 3 p.m. and 11 p.m. and July 22 and 23 between 3 p.m. and 9 p.m.
CBC
33 minutes ago
- CBC
After heat-related death, Montreal health officials warn of risks even after weather cools
With at least one death reported since Sunday, Montreal Public Health is urging people to keep an eye out for heat-related symptoms even once heat dissipates. A spokesperson for Montreal Public Health, Tudor Matei, said the agency has been notified of five other heat-related deaths this year, after temperatures soared in late June. The health agency is asking emergency doctors to report any deaths suspected to be linked to heat on days when Environment Canada issues heat warnings for the city. Temperatures exceeded 33 C in Montreal Sunday and Monday, with Tuesday's high expected to reach 34 C. Environment Canada forecasts a high of 29 C on Wednesday, with seasonal temperatures returning Thursday. Emergency rooms throughout the city say they're already seeing patients with heat-related symptoms. But health officials say the busiest days often come after it cools down. Medical professionals warn the health dangers can linger for days after. "Over a few days, people are warm, their bodies are compensating, but towards the end of it, when it persists for several days, we start to see that people get tired, and then their state tends to decline and that's where we get a peak," said Vanessa Grillo, with Urgences-santé. That means, even when the most recent heat wave is officially over, your body may still be at risk. Heat can cause a range of illnesses: heat cramps, exhaustion, stroke, rash and fainting due to overheating and dehydration. Doctors say it's critical to know when to get help. "Every year we try to avoid this kind of death because it's preventable and we really need people to be aware that it's not just casual heat," said Dr. Anne-Sara Briand, with Montreal Public Health. "It's deadly." WATCH | Health officials urge caution in Montreal heat: Why you should watch for heat-related symptoms — even after a heat wave is over 1 hour ago Health experts say staying hydrated, keeping cool and checking in on neighbours can save lives — especially for seniors and those with chronic illnesses. Montreal Public Health has launched a campaign called Visiter une personne aînée isolée — which translates to Visit an isolated senior — in partnership with the city and police, Briand said. The program involves door-to-door visits to check for fraud, mistreatment and heat-related risks. It helps identify the most vulnerable seniors, provide advice and add them to a contact list for support during heat waves, she said. Earlier this summer, Matei, a toxicologist with Montreal Public Health, said in the context of climate change and the region's rising temperatures, "it's more and more of a problem." During the summer heat wave in 2018, 66 people died in Montreal. Around two-thirds of those deaths were seniors with underlying health conditions. A 2024 study from Quebec's Institut national de la recherche scientifique (INRS) suggests that heat is responsible for 470 deaths per year in the province, and that the number will increase if nothing changes. Along with deaths, there are over 200 hospitalizations and thousands of emergency room visits.
