It& #39;s impossible to get real-time, national overdose data in Canada.

But I pieced together what I could.

In Ontario alone nearly 900 ppl died of confirmed/probable opioid ODs from *Jan to May* according to data I received. https://www.vice.com/en_ca/article/xg89ma/covid-19-could-make-2020-canadas-worst-year-for-overdoses">https://www.vice.com/en_ca/art...

Overdose calls to paramedics and police have also been on the rise:

Jan-Aug 2020: Regina police had 700+ OD calls, up from 68 during the same time in 2019

Jan-Aug 2020: Winnipeg EMS responded to 735 opioid calls, up from 263 during the same time in 2019

We& #39;re still waiting on updated OD numbers from Alberta, but OD emergency calls are rising there too:

June 2020: Edmonton EMS responded to 184 opioid-related emergencies up from 133 in June 2019

Jan-July 2020: Calgary Fire Dpt had 1,216 opioid calls up from 995 same time in 2019

Manitoba is the only province that hasn& #39;t yet published full overdose death data for 2019.

As for when we could get those numbers, a chief medical examiner spox told me they "may have 2019 and the first half of 2020 complete in the near future."

“I& #39;m very concerned because up until now, we& #39;ve had a completely piecemeal response to the overdose crisis” — @gilliankolla

“We’ve needed a comprehensive response for years now." https://www.vice.com/en_ca/article/xg89ma/covid-19-could-make-2020-canadas-worst-year-for-overdoses">https://www.vice.com/en_ca/art...

NFLD health ministry told me 21 ppl there died of ODs this year (from Jan-Sept 2nd). They had 39 OD deaths total in 2019 (they couldn& #39;t break it down by drug type/month).

RCMP just issued a warning about "fentanyl-laced" drugs in rural communities there https://www.rcmp-grc.gc.ca/en/news/2020/burin-peninsula-rcmp-warns-fentanyl-and-morphine-illegal-drugs">https://www.rcmp-grc.gc.ca/en/news/2...