Alcohol

• Alcohol is the most common drug used by Canadians

• 249 per 100,000 hospitalizations were entirely caused by alcohol (comparable to the rate for heart attacks which was 243 in 100,000)

• Drug abuse, addiction, and misuse can cause users many emotional, social, and physical issues. However, the worst risk is death. Overdoses, car accidents, and diseases caused by drug use can all be deadly.

• In 2016 there were 865 opioid-related deaths in Ontario alone, equal to an opioid-related death every 10 hours.

• 47,000 Canadian deaths are linked to substance abuse each year.

• Pedestrians under the influence of alcohol account for 12.3% of alcohol-related road deaths in Canada.

• In 2020, 4,395 people died of opioid-related causes in Canada (equal to 12 opioid-related deaths per day).

• 1 in 9 deaths of Ontarians ages 25-34 is opioid-related.

• Female addicts are 54% more likely to die prematurely because of drug use than male addicts.

• Tobacco is the leading cause of premature death in Canada.