Substance Use Trends in Canada Newsletter
The Canadian Community Epidemiology Network on Drug Use (CCENDU), co-ordinated by the Canadian Centre on Substance Use and Addiction (CCSA), publishes this newsletter, Substance Use Trends in Canada, to inform people living in Canada about emerging substance use issues and trends, pulling from a variety of information sources.
Each release focuses on specific, timely, relevant drug use, to create awareness and provide context on emerging trends. It features dedicated sections summarizing data, experiences and insights from CCSA’s networks, including CCENDU, the drug checking community and international networks where possible. To enhance understanding and engagement of substance use issues, the newsletter presents synthesized information in visual formats like maps, offering clear and impactful insights into the topics.
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Past Issues
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Issue 3: Nonmedical Benzodiazepines
Publication date: January 2025
This issue features reports from four CCENDU sites and eight drug checking services, alongside data from Health Canada’s Drug Analysis Service and Canadian Drug and Substance Watch, social and traditional media, and the Community Urinalysis and Self-Report Project, focused on the presence of nonmedical benzodiazepines (NMBs) in the unregulated drug supply. It shows that detection of NMBs is common across Canada but there are fluctuations over time and new NMBs emerge and replace each other often. It also discusses implications for first responders, healthcare workers, people who use drugs and policy makers.
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Issue 2: Medetomidine
Publication date: September 2024
This issue features reports from five CCENDU sites and four drug checking services, alongside data from Health Canada’s Drug Analysis Service and social and traditional media, focused on the presence of the veterinary tranquilizer medetomidine in the unregulated drug supply. It shows the presence of medetomidine in drugs expected to be opioids, often in combination with fentanyl, its analogues and other tranquilizers, in many regions across Canada. It also discusses implications for first responders, healthcare workers, people who use drugs and policy makers.
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Issue 1: Counterfeit Pharmaceuticals
Publication date: July 2024
This issue features reports from five CCENDU sites and six drug checking services, alongside data from Health Canada’s Drug Analysis Service and social and traditional media, focused on counterfeit pharmaceuticals containing unexpected ingredients. It shows the presence of counterfeit Dilaudid, OxyContin, Supeudol, Percocet, and Xanax, containing fentanyl, fentanyl analogues, nitazenes and nonmedical benzodiazepines, across Canada.
Canadian Community Epidemiology Network on Drug Use Network Coordinators
Created in 1995, the Canadian Community Epidemiology Network on Drug Use draws its members from organizations in the public health, enforcement, treatment and hospital sectors that work in the areas of substance use surveillance, policy and planning, or otherwise directly serve local, high-risk populations.
Contact ccendu@ccsa.ca to connect with a regional network coordinator in your area.
Region | Primary contact | Organization |
|---|---|---|
| British Columbia | Brooke Kinniburg | BC Centre for Disease Control |
| Manitoba | Jackie Lemaire | Addictions Foundation of Manitoba |
| Ontario (Thunder Bay) | Rilee Willianen | Thunder Bay Drug Strategy |
| Ontario (Toronto) | Keerthana Elankeeran | Toronto Public Health |
| Quebec | Karine Martel | National Institute of Public Health Quebec |
| Nova Scotia | Patryk Simon | Nova Scotia Health Authority |
| Newfoundland and Labrador | Wayne Bishop | Eastern Health Newfoundland and Labrador |
| National Co-ordination | Doris Payer | Canadian Centre on Substance Use and Addiction |
| National Co-ordination | Kate Stoysich | Canadian Centre on Substance Use and Addiction |
Past Alerts and Bulletins
CCENDU Bulletin: An Update on Stimulant Use and Related Harms in Canada and the United States
This bulletin summarizes the most recent updates on stimulant use and related harms in Canada...
Xylazine (CCENDU Drug Alert)
Summarizes the increased risk of accidental overdose due to xylazine in Canada’s unregulated drug supply. Xylazine is a non-opioid pain reliever developed as a sedative and...
Nitazenes (CCENDU Drug Alert)
This alert summarizes the increased risk of accidental overdose due to nitazene compounds being identified in Canada’s unregulated drug supply. Nitazene compounds are...
Risks and Harms Associated with the Nonmedical Use of Benzodiazepines in the Unregulated Drug Supply in Canada (CCENDU Bulletin)
This bulletin summarizes the risks and harms associated with nonmedical benzodiazepines...
Changes Related to COVID-19 in the Illegal Drug Supply and Access to Services, and Resulting Health Harms (CCENDU Alert)
Summarizes preliminary information about the impact of COVID-19 on the illegal drug supply, the...
Adulterants, Contaminants and Co-occurring Substances in Drugs on the Illegal Market in Canada (CCENDU Bulletin)
Provides a snapshot of the contents of drugs on the illegal market in Canada using 2018–2019...
Changes in Stimulant Use and Related Harms: Focus on Methamphetamine and Cocaine (CCENDU Bulletin)
Drug-related Harms at Canadian Music Festivals, June to August 2014 (CCENDU Bulletin)
Summarizes possible drug-related harms that occurred at Canadian music festivals between June...
Calling 911 in Drug Poisoning Situations (CCENDU Bulletin)
Summarizes Canadian rates of calling 9-1-1 in drug poisoning situations, which greatly impacts...
Novel Synthetic Opioids in Counterfeit Pharmaceuticals and Other Illicit Street Drugs (CCENDU Bulletin)
Summarizes information on novel synthetic opioids that can appear in counterfeit pharmaceuticals...
The Availability of Take-Home Naloxone in Canada (CCENDU Bulletin)
Describes the availability of take-home naloxone programs in Canada and the steps required to...
Deaths Involving Fentanyl in Canada, 2009–2014 (CCENDU Bulletin)
Fentanyl-related Overdoses (CCENDU Drug Alert)
Synthetic Cannabinoids in Canada (CCENDU Bulletin)
Increasing Availability of Counterfeit Oxycodone Tablets Containing Fentanyl (CCENDU Drug Alert)
Summarizes information on the availability of counterfeit oxycodone tablets containing fentanyl,...
No Confirmed Reports of Desomorphine (“Krocodil”/“Crocodile”) in Canada (CCENDU Bulletin)
Summarizes confirmed and unconfirmed reports about the presence of desomorphine (also known as...
Illicit Fentanyl (CCENDU Drug Alert)
Summarizes information on the potential for serious adverse health consequences from using illicit fentanyl. The alert notes that illicit fentanyl produced in clandestine labs...
Misuse of Opioids in Canadian Communities (CCENDU Bulletin)
Provides information on the misuse of opioids in Canadian communities. This bulletin defines...
CCENDU Drug Alert: "Bath Salts" (June 5, 2012)
Summarizes information, including concerns and legal status, on a number of synthetic amphetamine-type stimulants that go under the name “bath salts.” The alerts notes that...
