Public announcements or official reports from Toronto Public Health

Toronto Reports 523 Opioid Overdose Deaths in 2023, A 'Human Tragedy'

May 29, 2024, 04:55 PM

The opioid crisis in Toronto claimed 523 lives in 2023, according to public health officials. This marks a significant increase in opioid deaths compared to pre-pandemic numbers. The rise in fatalities has been attributed to an unregulated drug supply increasingly contaminated with toxic substances. Preliminary data indicates that over one-third of the victims were in their own homes when they died. Public health officials described the situation as a 'human tragedy.'