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Healthcare

Substance use led to $13.4 billion in healthcare costs in 2020. This accounts for 27.3% of the total overall cost of $49.1 billion.

This was equivalent to $386 per person in Canada.

Healthcare costs include:

  • Inpatient hospitalizations,
  • Day surgeries,
  • Emergency department visits,
  • Paramedic services,
  • Specialized treatment for substance use disorders,
  • Physician time and
  • Prescription drugs.
Administrators, policy makers, healthcare providers and medical professionals can use this information to support patients, providers and the healthcare system overall by developing programs, resources, facilities and supports to address issues related to substance use.


Healthcare Costs by the Numbers

Pie chart of all costs associated with substance use in Canada in 2020 focuses only on healthcare costs, which accounted for $13.4 billion.
  • Healthcare costs attributable to substance use were $386 per person in Canada.
  • Alcohol ($6.3 billion) and tobacco ($5.4 billion) contributed about 87% of the total healthcare costs attributable to substance use. These are two of the three substances legally available in Canada at the time.
  • Opioids use accounted for the third-highest healthcare costs ($519 million) (3.9%)

Healthcare Costs Per Person
(2007–2020)

Overall costs increased 10.0%, from $321 to $353.

Healthcare Costs Per Person by Substance (2007–2020)

Central nervous system stimulants (excluding cocaine) costs increased 179.8%, from $3 to $9.
Cannabis costs rose 88.8%, from $5 to $10
Alcohol costs rose 40.5%, from $117 to $165
Opioid costs increased 15.1%, from $12 to $14

Emerging Trends in Healthcare Costs

  • While per-person healthcare costs attributable to alcohol rose 40.5% between 2007 and 2020 ($117 to $165), per-person healthcare costs associated with tobacco use decreased 14.5%, from $167 to $143.
  • Overall healthcare costs declined in 2020 during the first year of the pandemic. This was likely due to shifts in healthcare-seeking behaviour and capacity of healthcare services during the pandemic.

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