Illicit opioids like fentanyl linked to rise in fatal overdoses in Nova Scotia: study
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HALIFAX – A new study suggests the decline in fatal opioid overdoses reported in Nova Scotia early in the COVID-19 pandemic gave way to a steady increase in deaths linked to illicit versions of the drug after 2021.
Researchers at Dalhousie University in Halifax had a close look at data related to fatal opioid overdoses between 2009 to 2023.
Their study focused on the differences between pharmaceutical opioids, typically prescribed for pain relief, and illicit versions including heroin and fentanyl.
The findings suggest illicit opioids became a growing contributor to overdose deaths in Nova Scotia, though the province still records proportionally more pharmaceutical-related fatalities than most other provinces.
Citing other studies, the researchers say the opioid crisis in Canada has been devastating, claiming almost 23,000 lives between January 2016 and March 2021, with rates continuing to rise in recent years.
The Dalhousie study was published in the Canadian Journal of Public Health in August.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Nov. 26, 2025.