Opioid Usage - Statistics in Niagara

These are statistics for opioid usage in Niagara. Topics covered include:

Suspected opioid overdoses responded to by Niagara Region Emergency Medical Services
Opioid-related emergency department visits
Opioid-related hospitalizations
Opioid-related deaths
Naloxone use and distribution in Niagara

Suspected opioid overdoses responded to by Niagara Region Emergency Medical Services (2022 - 2025)

From January - April 2025, there were 164 suspected opioid overdoses that have been responded to by EMS. This is approximately 41 responses per month.
In 2024, there were 770 suspected opioid overdoses that have been responded to by EMS.

68 per cent of EMS calls related to suspected opioid overdoses occurred in males
59 per cent of EMS calls related to suspected opioid overdoses occurred in individuals aged 25-44
54 per cent of EMS calls related to suspected opioid overdoses occurred in St. Catharines while 27 per cent occurred in Niagara Falls

In 2023, there were 734 suspected opioid overdoses that have been responded to by EMS.

68 per cent of EMS calls related to suspected opioid overdoses occurred in males
59 per cent of EMS calls related to suspected opioid overdoses occurred in individuals aged 25-44
52 per cent of EMS calls related to suspected opioid overdoses occurred in St. Catharines while 25 per cent occurred in Niagara Falls

In 2022, there were 663 suspected opioid overdoses that have been responded to by EMS.

71 per cent of EMS calls related to suspected opioid overdoses occurred in males
67 per cent of EMS calls related to suspected opioid overdoses occurred in individuals aged 25-44
54 per cent of EMS calls related to suspected opioid overdoses occurred in St. Catharines while 26 per cent occurred in Niagara Falls

Data Source: EMS EDGE, 2025; Data is preliminary and is subject to change without notice

Opioid-related emergency department visits (2021-2024)

From January - September 2024 there were 528 opioid-related emergency department visits. This is approximately 59 emergency department visits per month.
In 2023, there were 607 opioid-related emergency department visits. This is approximately 51 emergency department visits per month.

65 per cent of opioid-related emergency department visits occurred in males
54 per cent of opioid-related emergency departments visits occurred in individuals aged 25-44

In 2022, there were 581 opioid-related emergency department visits. This is approximately 49 emergency department visits per month.

63 per cent of opioid-related emergency department visits occurred in males
55 per cent of opioid-related emergency departments visits occurred in individuals aged 25-44

In 2021, there were 973 opioid-related emergency department visits. This is approximately 82 emergency department visits per month.

69 per cent of opioid-related emergency department visits occurred in males
64 per cent of opioid-related emergency departments visits occurred in individuals aged 25-44

Data Source: Ontario Agency for Health Protection and Promotion (Public Health Ontario). Substance use and harms tool >> [Cases of ED visits due to opioid-related poisonings in Niagara Region Public Health] [Internet]. Toronto, ON: King’s Printer for Ontario; 2024.

Opioid-related hospitalizations (2021-2024)

From January - September 2024, there were 79 opioid-related hospitalizations. This is approximately 9 hospitalizations per month.
In 2023, there were 98 opioid-related hospitalizations. This is approximately 8 hospitalizations per month.

58 per cent of opioid-related hospitalizations occurred in males
40 per cent of opioid-related hospitalizations occurred in individuals aged 25-44

In 2022, there were 101 opioid-related hospitalizations. This is approximately 9 hospitalizations per month.

57 per cent of opioid-related hospitalizations occurred in males
39 per cent of opioid-related hospitalizations occurred in individuals aged 45-64

In 2021, there were 102 opioid-related hospitalizations. This is approximately 9 hospitalizations per month.

62 per cent of opioid-related hospitalizations occurred in males
44 per cent of opioid-related hospitalizations occurred in individuals aged 25-44

Data Source: Ontario Agency for Health Protection and Promotion (Public Health Ontario). Substance use and harms tool >> [Cases of hospitalizations due to opioid-related poisonings in Niagara Region Public Health] [Internet]. Toronto, ON; 2024

Deaths due to opioid toxicity (2021-2024)

From January - September 2024 there were 95 deaths due to opioid toxicity. This is approximately 11 per month.
In 2023, there were a total of 134 deaths due to opioid toxicity. This is approximately 11 per month.

Fentanyl was the most common type of opioid present at the time of death (present in 84 per cent of deaths), followed by methadone (present in 16 per cent of deaths)

In 2022, there were a total of 125 deaths due to opioid toxicity. This is approximately 10 deaths per month.

Fentanyl was the most common type of opioid present at the time of death (present in 83 per cent of deaths), followed by methadone (present in 13 per cent of deaths)

In 2021, there were a total of 166 deaths due to opioid toxicity.

Fentanyl was the most common type of opioid present at the time of death (present in 91 per cent of deaths), followed by methadone (present in 13 per cent of deaths)

Data Source: Ontario Agency for Health Protection and Promotion (Public Health Ontario). Substance use and harms tool >> [Cases of deaths due to opioid toxicity in Niagara Region Public Health] [Internet]. Toronto, ON: King’s Printer for Ontario; 2024.

Naloxone use and distribution in Niagara (2021 - 2023)

Currently, naloxone is distributed through participating Ontario pharmacies, community health centres, methadone clinics, detention centres and addiction treatment facilities
Data presented here only captures naloxone use and distribution for agencies in Niagara enrolled in the Ontario Naloxone Program

From January to June 2023, there were 3,811 naloxone kits distributed in Niagara through the Ontario Naloxone Program

Naloxone kits were reportedly used 303 times from January to June 2023

In 2022, there were 7,161 naloxone kits distributed in Niagara through the Ontario Naloxone Program

Naloxone kits were reportedly used 749 times in 2022

In 2021, there were 7,883 naloxone kits distributed in Niagara through the Ontario Naloxone Program

Naloxone kits were reportedly used 1,188 times in 2021

Data Source: Niagara Region Public Health, 2023; Data is preliminary and is subject to change without notice