Addiction Severity in Sudbury

In Greater Sudbury, 94% of all overdoses involved opioids. Across all ages and genders, the average rate of opioid toxicity deaths was consistently higher in the Greater Sudbury area, particularly for people under the age of 30. The rate is 3.6 times higher than the Ontario average. In other words, since 2018, the rate of overdose in Ontario rose by 60%, while in the Greater Sudbury area it rose by 193%.

Fentanyl remains the highest contributor to overdose deaths across the province. In Greater Sudbury, the death rate involving fentanyl is 82%, slightly higher than Ontario’s average of 77%. However, the area had fewer deaths involving Carfentanil, hydromorphone, morphine, or oxycodone.

Also, cocaine and methamphetamines account for half the overdose deaths in the region of Sudbury, which is higher than the provincial average.

For more information, see the report from the coroner.

Alcohol is also a source of addiction in the area. While Ontario’s overall heavy drinking was reported at 17%, Sudbury’s was reported at 24%, which is substantially higher.