The most popular opioid is the leading cause of death in Canada, according to the government.
Fentanyl is the leading cause of opioid deaths in Canada, according to new government data.
The World Health Organization on Monday reported that nearly 50,000 people in North America will die of opioid overdose from January 2016 to June 2024.
At that time, fentanyl, the most popular opioid production They are sometimes given to relieve pain, resulting in 49,105 deaths.
Meanwhile, the number of fentanyl deaths has increased, according to the data, accounting for 79 percent of opioid deaths so far this year. This is a 39 percent increase from 2016.
The information was released just weeks before United States President-elect Donald Trump entered the White House.
The Trump administration is at hand to increase interest to the opioid crisis in North America, and the president-elect is threatening they impose a 25 percent tax Canada and Mexico as neighbors have not done much to stop the spread of drugs and illegal immigrants crossing into the US.
The Canadian government last week announced new border measures aimed at allaying Trump's concerns, although the president-elect's claims do not match his current record.
US Customs and Border Protections reported that less than 20kg of fentanyl was seized at the US-Canada border in 2023.
However, Canadian authorities have warned of an increase in the domestic production of fentanyl in the country, and are introducing legislation focusing on the chemicals used to make the substance.
Canada's Ministry of Foreign Affairs has announced the confiscation of Canadian-made fentanyl in the US, Australia and other countries, which shows that livestock production exceeds demand and Canada has become a net exporter of fentanyl.
The overall number of opioid overdoses is down compared to last year, according to Health Canada.
Health Canada said an average of 21 people have died each day from opioid overdoses so far this year – an 11 per cent drop from 2023.
However, the agency cautioned that the figures are preliminary and subject to change.
“We need to be careful in thinking about what's going on in 2024,” it said in a statement.
“The prevalence of opioids and stimulant-related harm remains extremely high.”