Toronto saw spike in overdose calls compared to last 2 holiday periods: public health
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TORONTO – Public health officials say calls for suspected opioid overdoses in Toronto jumped over the holidays compared with the same periods in the last two years.
Toronto Public Health says paramedics received 122 calls related to suspected opioid overdoses from Dec. 20 to 28, up 35 per cent from the average number of calls received over the same time in the last two years.
It says there were fewer than five calls for fatal overdoses, which is comparable to last year.
The agency says Toronto’s drug-checking service confirms worsening contamination in the unregulated opioid supply, including higher-than-usual concentrations of para-fluorofentanyl — a related drug roughly as strong as fentanyl — in samples expected to be fentanyl.
Toronto Public Health says the holidays can be a challenging time for some, and increased feelings of stress or isolation can affect substance use.
It says people who are using drugs should try not to use alone and make sure to have naloxone, a medication that reverses the effects of an overdose from opioids, on hand.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Dec. 30, 2025.