Rising Accidental Deaths in Canada Driven by Drug Overdoses and Falls: Gov’t Data

Prescription pills containing oxycodone and acetaminophen are shown in Toronto, Dec. 23, 2017. The Canadian Press/Graeme Roy

Unintentional injuries emerged as the third leading cause of death in 2023, trailing only cancer and heart disease, due to a surge in accidental drug poisonings and falls, government statistics suggest.

Fatal unintentional injuries now account for 6 percent of all deaths in Canada, a 139 percent increase since 2000, according to a new report from Statistics Canada. The accidental death toll was at 8,631 in 2000, surging to 20,597 by 2023.