Category: Health

Statement

Today is International Overdose Awareness Day, a day to mourn those we’ve lost, and to recognize the devastating impacts of the illegal drug crisis on our families and communities.

August 31, 2026 | Ottawa, Ontario | Health Canada

Today is International Overdose Awareness Day, a day to mourn those we’ve lost and to recognize the devastating impacts of the illegal drug crisis on our families and communities.

The illegal drug crisis continues to have significant impacts on individuals, families, friends, and communities across Canada. We know that when pain goes unmanaged, it can take a heavy toll on people’s mental and physical health, impacting individuals, families and communities alike. Unmanaged pain can also sometimes lead people to turn to harmful ways to manage their pain, like higher-risk substance use.

Substance-related harms are influenced by a range of occupational, economic, social and systemic factors, including the ongoing impacts of colonialism. These factors contribute to differences in health outcomes across populations. As a result, some groups experience a disproportionate burden of substance use and addiction, including people employed in physically demanding occupations and Indigenous communities. Men also continue to experience a disproportionate burden of opioid-related harms, including higher rates of opioid overdoses in Canada, underscoring the importance of targeted approaches to address the health needs of men and boys.

Addressing this complex crisis requires strong, coordinated efforts across governments, sectors, and communities. Together, we are taking action to address the health, social and economic impacts of the illegal drug crisis, while also targeting the criminals profiting from harming Canadians. We are accomplishing this through a range of federal initiatives and investments, including the Canadian Drugs and Substances Strategy, Canada’s Border Plan, the Strengthening Canada’s Immigration System and Borders Act (Bill C-12) and by investing significantly to strengthen law enforcement capacity. Recognizing that housing plays an important role in supporting health and well-being, the Government of Canada is also investing through Canada’s National Housing Strategy to improve access to safe, affordable housing. For instance, Build Canada Homes will deploy $1 billion to build transitional and supportive housing for people who are homeless or at risk of homelessness. It will collaborate with key provincial, territorial, municipal, and Indigenous partners to pair these federal investments with employment and health care supports.

Together with international partners, provinces, territories and Indigenous communities, we are supporting urgent substance use and addiction services, social supports, and culturally grounded programs that save lives every day. Currently, the Substance Use and Addictions Program is providing over $225 million to more than 75 community-based initiatives, while the Emergency Treatment Fund is providing over $72 million to more than 60 projects supporting municipalities and Indigenous communities across Canada.

To help youth make informed choices and access supports that meet their needs, the Government of Canada is working directly with communities to develop tailored approaches to substance use prevention for youth through the Youth Substance Use Prevention Program. Public education campaigns continue to raise awareness of opioids and overdose prevention through targeted initiatives, including the “Know More Opioids” and “Reduce Your Risk” events for secondary and post-secondary students across Canada.

The Government is also investing approximately $768M in 2026-2027 for Indigenous mental wellness, including support for Indigenous-led, community-based, and culturally relevant substance use prevention, treatment, and recovery services. Indigenous Services Canada supports a continuum of substance use care that includes mental wellness promotion, prevention, harm reduction, treatment, and recovery that is Indigenous-led, community-based, and culturally relevant.

These efforts, coupled with those at provincial/territorial and municipal levels, are making a real difference. Canada saw a 23% national decrease in opioid toxicity deaths in 2025 compared to the previous year. While this downward trend is a step in the right direction, our work is far from over, and certain regions and communities remain disproportionately impacted.

Community workers, first responders and health and social service organizations help save lives every day. On this day – Overdose Awareness Day – we thank them for their unwavering commitment to supporting Canadians affected by substance use.

Every Canadian can help save a life by learning what to do in case of an opioid overdose:

1. Know the signs
2. Call 9-1-1 or your local emergency number
3. Give naloxone if you have it
4. Stay with the person until help arrives

To learn more about overdose prevention and response, visit Stop overdoses.

The Honourable Marjorie Michel, Minister of Health

The Honourable Mandy Gull-Masty, Minister of Indigenous Services

The Honourable Gary Anandasangaree, Minister of Public Safety

Kevin Brosseau, Canada’s Fentanyl Czar

If you or someone you know needs help with substance use, services are available. You are not alone. Talk to a health care provider or visit:

Contacts

Health Canada

Alexandre Bergeron
Press Secretary
Office of the Minister of Health
alexandre.bergeron@hc-sc.gc.ca

Media Relations
Health Canada
613-957-2983
media@hc-sc.gc.ca

Public Safety

Simon Lafortune
Deputy Director of Communications and Press Secretary
Office of the Honourable Gary Anandasangaree
Minister of Public Safety
Simon.Lafortune@ps-sp.gc.ca

Media Relations
Public Safety Canada
613-991-0657
media@ps-sp.gc.ca

Fentanyl Czar

FentanylCzarMedia-TsardufentanylMedia@forces.gc.ca

Indigenous Services

Livi McElrea
Press Secretary
Office of the Honourable Mandy Gull-Masty
Minister of Indigenous Services
olivia.mcelrea@sac-isc.gc.ca

Media Relations
Indigenous Services Canada
media@sac-isc.gc.ca

August 19, 2026 | Whitehorse, Yukon | Health Canada

Today, the Honourable Marjorie Michel, Minister of Health, announced over $6.6 million to strengthen and expand access to integrated mental health and wellness supports for youth and young adults aged 12 to 30 across Yukon.

Delivered by BYTE – Empowering Youth Society, the Yukon Integrated Youth Services (IYS) project will bring together health, social service, education, and community partners to create a more coordinated and accessible approach to youth mental health care. This project marks a significant milestone with the first IYS hub in the territories being opened in Whitehorse. The IYS model provides youth with access to a range of services in one place to support their mental health, wellbeing, and overall health, making it easier for young people and their families to find the help they need.

A mobile wellness unit, staffed by mental health professionals and peer supporters, will also travel to rural and remote communities across the Yukon to provide mental health and wellness services and programming.

Supported through the Youth Mental Health Fund (YMHF), this project is part of the Government of Canada’s commitment to improve mental health outcomes for youth across the country by enhancing access to, and navigation of, mental health services with a focus on underserved, rural and Indigenous youth.

August 4, 2026 | Ottawa, Ontario | Health Canada

Ebola disease is a severe illness with a high fatality rate. There is currently no licensed vaccine or treatment for Bundibugyo virus disease, the type of Ebola disease that is causing the current outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

On July 30, 2026, Health Canada authorized Moderna to move forward with a Phase I clinical trial for its candidate mRNA vaccine for Ebola disease caused by the Bundibugyo virus. Canada is the second country to authorize a Phase I clinical trial for a Bundibugyo virus vaccine candidate after the U.K.

The clinical trial will assess the candidate vaccine’s safety, determine the right dosage range and identify any side effects in healthy participants. Following this, Moderna would be required to conduct additional clinical trial phases before it could seek approval from Health Canada for the vaccine. Any final submission would need to meet Health Canada’s stringent safety, efficacy and quality standards before the vaccine could be allowed on the Canadian market.

July 29, 2026 – Ottawa, ON – Health Canada

On June 11, 2026, the Superior Court of Québec granted Health Canada a permanent injunction against Canlab Research and its representatives. The injunction prevents the company from selling unauthorized injectable peptides in Canada.

Selling unauthorized prescription drugs or making false or misleading claims to prevent, treat or cure illnesses is illegal in Canada.

Canlab Research, a Québec-based online retailer, had been selling unauthorized peptide drugs on various websites and promoting them with many unproven health claims, despite repeated enforcement actions by Health Canada. These actions included a Ministerial Order directing the company to cease advertising and selling unauthorized health products because of the health risks to Canadians.

Under the injunction, Canlab Research and its representatives cannot manufacture, test, distribute or sell unauthorized injectable peptides, nor can it assist others in doing the same. It also cannot advertise or assist others in advertising these products, including through any website or social media platform accessible with a Canadian Internet Protocol (IP) address.

Health Canada will monitor compliance with the injunction and will consider further action if the company does not comply. This could include referring the matter for prosecution or filing an application for contempt.

In Canada, injectable peptides are regulated as prescription drugs and must be authorized by Health Canada before they can be sold. Authorized peptide drugs should only be used under the care of a licensed healthcare professional, such as a doctor, to treat specific conditions. Due to the serious health risks posed by these products, the Department warned consumers in December 2023 not to buy unauthorized injectable peptides from Canlab Research.

The Department continues to warn consumers about the dangers of illegal peptide products; most recently, it issued advisory in April 2026 urging consumers to think twice before injecting peptides bought online.

Unauthorized peptide drugs can be dangerous and may contain ingredients that have not been assessed for safety, effectiveness or quality. Their use can cause a variety of risks, including but not limited to hormonal imbalance, mood swings, blood sugar imbalance, liver or kidney damage, blood clots, and growth of cancerous tumours. Authorized prescription drugs in Canada have an eight-digit Drug Identification Number (DIN) on the label. Consumers can also check if a drug has been authorized for sale by searching Health Canada’s Drug Product Database.

Health Canada encourages consumers to subscribe to its recalls and safety alerts database for the latest information on dangerous health products. Consumers are also encouraged to report any health product-related side effects or complaints to Health Canada, including any suspected illegal activities involving health products.

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