Death Rate Rose Among Young Canadians During Pandemic Amid Surging Overdoses: StatCan

Increased feelings of social isolation and a 95% jump in opioid-related deaths disproportionately hurt younger Canadians

People cross a deserted street in Old Montreal on Feb. 8, 2022, during provincial restrictions to curb the spread of COVID-19. The Canadian Press/Graham Hughes

Excess mortality rates among younger Canadians rose as the COVID-19 pandemic wore on, which may have been the result of increased substance use and missed medical appointments, according to Statistics Canada.

The federal agency released the latest provisional data on April 14, which shows that overall excess mortality—meaning more deaths than expected in a given period—climbed to 28,987 in Canada from March 2020 to the end of November 2021.