Canadian Substance Use Costs and Harms Online Data Visualisation Tool

CSUCH’s data visualisation tool can be used to estimate substance use trends across the country. The data helps inform programs, practices, and research to protect communities, save lives, and improve the well-being of people in Canada.

Spotlight: Top 3 causes of death due to substance use in Canada 

More than 200 people died each day due to substance use (SU) in 2020 (the latest year for which data are available). That works out to 73,994 deaths that year. The average age of death due to SU was 45 years. Tobacco use caused 63% (46,366) of SU-related deaths, followed by alcohol at 23% (17,098) and opioids at 9% (6,491).
 

• However, the standardized rate of SU-related deaths due to tobacco decreased by 36%, from 89.3 deaths per 100,000 people in 2007 to 56.8 in 2020, with cancer as the leading cause. These SU-related deaths are most common among people ages 65 years and older.
   
• Deaths due to alcohol and opioids increased between 2007 and 2020, with unintentional injuries like accidental poisonings as the leading cause. These SU-related deaths are highest among people ages 35 to 64 years.
    
  • SU-related deaths due to alcohol doubled between 2007 and 2020, from 1.9 deaths per 100,000 to 3.7.
     
  • SU-related deaths due to opioids increased four times, from 0.1 deaths per 100,000 in 2007 to 0.4 in 2020.

These deaths have long-term implications for lost productivity and healthcare services in Canada.