There were 1,162 opioid-related deaths in the same time period in 2019. More than half of opioid-related deaths occurred among people who were unemployed, the report found. Men accounted for 76 per cent of opioid-related deaths, an increase from 71 per cent the year before. People aged 25 to 44 accounted for 1,109 opioid-related deaths during the pandemic, an increase of 501 deaths from before the pandemic. Of those who were employed, about one-third of opioid-related deaths occurred among people in the construction industry.

Source: CBC News May 19, 2021 09:00 UTC