Skip to main content
 

Healthcare

One out of 10 people admitted to hospital are there because of the impact of substance use on their health.

In 2024, there were almost 300,000 hospitalizations related to alcohol or drugs, representing 12% of all hospitalizations in Canada. The majority were related to the broad health effects of substance use including cancers, cardiovascular disease, liver disease, injuries, infectious diseases and other acute and chronic conditions, with only a small portion related to substance use disorders (addictions). This latest data is part of the Canadian Substance Use Costs and Harms (CSUCH) — Healthcare 2017-2024 report.

Healthcare costs related to substance use reached $16.4 billion in 2024, with alcohol ($7.8 billion) and tobacco ($6.8 billion) accounting for 90% of the overall costs. Approximately 87% of adults in Canada reported using at least one psychoactive substance — such as alcohol, tobacco, cannabis, opioids or other drugs — in the past year.

Opioid-related healthcare costs are rising the fastest. Although they account for 4.4% of overall costs, per-person costs increased by approximately 30% from 2017 to 2024. This likely reflects the impact of the toxic and unstable unregulated drug market, among other contributing factors.

The $16.4 billion includes:

  • Prescription medications ($4.9 billion);
  • In-patient hospitalizations ($4.6 billion); and
  • Physician time ($3.9 billion).

CSUCH allows for a better understanding of the societal economic costs and harms associated with substance use in Canada. The figures show the scope of costs and harms of substance use, which is essential for allocating resources effectively to meet the needs of Canadians.

Who can use this information?

Policy makers, public health experts, researchers and others can use these data to:

  • Effectively develop, allocate and advocate for prevention, treatment and harm reduction initiatives and resources
  • Monitor trends across Canada and identify vulnerable populations
  • Inform policy and program decision-making at the local, provincial/territorial and national levels
  • Highlight knowledge gaps and opportunities to improve national data reporting systems