4 northern cities in top 10 for fatal overdose rates in the province

Northern Ontario cities top fatal overdose rates in the province – with local user citing pain and lack of treatment options among reasons.

Four northern Ontario cities rank among the top 10 in the province for the highest per-capita rates of fatal drug overdoses, according to preliminary 2024 data from the Office of the Chief Coroner of Ontario.

Thunder Bay leads the list with 80 deaths last year – a rate of 69.14 per 100,000 people. Sault Ste. Marie follows with 38 deaths (48.36 per 100,000), Timmins records 18 deaths (40.74 per 100,000), and Greater Sudbury places seventh with 59 deaths (32.81 per 100,000). The provincial rate is 14.3 per 100,000 people with 2231 opioid-related deaths reported in Ontario last year.

Public Health Sudbury & Districts says opioid-related fatalities in the region remain significantly higher than the provincial average.

“We know that here in the North, we have increased isolation due to our large geographic area, and with that comes difficulty with transportation accessing mental health and treatment services,” said Rachelle Roy, a public health nurse.

“We also know that there is ongoing historical trauma and substance-related stigma.”

‘Drugs numb the pain’: Northern man’s 8-year addiction battle

Cory Gould, a Sudbury resident who has multiple sclerosis and schizophrenia, says he has struggled with addiction for eight years.

“I do a little bit of crystal meth. I do fentanyl, smoke weed, and unfortunately, I have overdosed many times – like 49 times actually,” said Gould.

He attributes his drug use to physical and emotional pain – including grief over the death of his son.

“A lot of pain, a lot of loss. I lost my son four years ago. He passed away from a seizure from natural issues,” he said.

“So since then, I’ve kinda been in grief, and I’m using the drugs to just help me deal with pain. It’s the only thing that numbs it really.”

Gould says he has lost five friends to overdoses in Sudbury.

“It saddens me actually, you know, to know I’m still around and they’re not. I don’t know – it makes you feel kind of different because if you’re still around and they’re gone,” he said.

“I miss them every day.”

Speaking with CTV News on Friday, Gould said that he feels more treatment options are needed in Sudbury for those seeking help and that he is currently on a waiting list for an addiction treatment centre in Sault Ste. Marie.

Health officials advise that the recent data highlights the ongoing opioid crisis in northern Ontario, where access to services remains a challenge in many communities.