New data from the Winnipeg Fire Paramedic Service shows substance use calls have climbed in the past 10 years, with opioids being the main culprit. The WFPS released data on how many substance use calls responders were dispatched to from 2016 until November of 2025. The substances listed were alcohol, cocaine, crystal meth, marijuana, and opioids. In 2016, alcohol made up the majority of the 6,747 substance use calls, with 5,705. However, the number has slowly dropped over the past decade, with 2025 call numbers sitting at 4,369. Opioid calls have skyrocketed in the same time frame, starting at 231 in 2016 and rising all the way to 2,927 in 2025. The worst year for opioid calls was 2023, with 3,400 logged by WFPS. Crystal meth calls saw the next most significant jump. There were 436 calls for meth in 2016, with dramatic upward trends until 2021, when they peaked at 1,833. Since then, meth calls have dipped, with 2025 seeing 1,187. Cocaine and marijuana calls have remained relatively low throughout the 10-year period. Total calls have also risen significantly, going from 6,747 in 2016 to 9,045 in 2025. The report notes these numbers are likely higher because some calls are logged based on symptoms, such as shortness of breath, dizziness, or chest tightness, which could all be symptoms of the consumed substances.
