Joint Ministerial Statement on International Overdose Awareness Day

Today is International Overdose Awareness Day, a day to mourn those we’ve lost, and to recognize the devastating impacts of the illegal drug crisis on our families and communities.

August 31, 2026 | Ottawa, Ontario | Health Canada

Today is International Overdose Awareness Day, a day to mourn those we've lost and to recognize the devastating impacts of the illegal drug crisis on our families and communities.

The illegal drug crisis continues to have significant impacts on individuals, families, friends, and communities across Canada. We know that when pain goes unmanaged, it can take a heavy toll on people's mental and physical health, impacting individuals, families and communities alike. Unmanaged pain can also sometimes lead people to turn to harmful ways to manage their pain, like higher-risk substance use.

Substance-related harms are influenced by a range of occupational, economic, social and systemic factors, including the ongoing impacts of colonialism. These factors contribute to differences in health outcomes across populations. As a result, some groups experience a disproportionate burden of substance use and addiction, including people employed in physically demanding occupations and Indigenous communities. Men also continue to experience a disproportionate burden of opioid-related harms, including higher rates of opioid overdoses in Canada, underscoring the importance of targeted approaches to address the health needs of men and boys.