Quebec is expected to exceed 600 drug overdose fatalities for the second year in a row, prompting calls from experts for increased efforts to combat this trend. The Quebec Institute for Public Health (INSPQ) documented 645 confirmed or suspected drug overdose deaths in 2024, marking the highest number ever recorded in the province. As of September 2025, INSPQ has reported 453 deaths, projecting a total of approximately 604 deaths for the year. Professionals working directly with individuals grappling with drug addiction have observed a growing demand for assistance, while resources remain limited.
Anthony Berger, a clinical supervisor at Dunham House in Quebec’s Eastern Townships, noted a 16% rise in applications for the English-language residential treatment facility for substance abuse and mental health in both 2024 and 2025. However, with only a 38-bed capacity, Berger emphasized the challenge of accommodating all those in need. He emphasized the necessity for increased funding and support from the Quebec government to address the cuts experienced by treatment centers like theirs.
Comparatively, Quebec’s drug overdose statistics are lower than provinces such as British Columbia, which recorded over 2,000 toxic drug-related deaths in 2024. Despite this difference, Patricia Conrod, a professor of psychiatry and addiction at the Université de Montréal, highlighted the concerning trajectory of Quebec’s numbers in contrast to provinces with historically high overdose rates. Conrod stressed the importance of proactive measures to prevent Quebec from reaching saturation levels seen in other regions.
The Quebec Ministry of Health and Social Services acknowledged the concerning rise in opioid and drug-related deaths, attributing the situation to an evolving illicit market and increased drug contamination beyond opioids. Jade Lalumière, a social worker at Maison Benoît-Labre in Montreal, expressed her observation of the escalating impact of addiction, emphasizing the negative influence of public opinion on services for individuals battling addiction. Lalumière underscored the importance of supporting harm-reduction approaches like safe-supply initiatives to prevent unnecessary loss of lives due to addiction.
