Substance-related acute toxicity deaths in Canada from 2016 to 2017 : a review of coroner and medical examiner files

Abstract

This report provides an overview of findings from a chart review study of coroner and medical examiner death investigations of people who died due to substance-related acute toxicity in Canada from January 1, 2016 to December 31, 2017. This is the first time such a study has been conducted in Canada at the national level. The sociodemographic and socioeconomic characteristics of the people who died, the substances involved, and the circumstances surrounding the acute toxicity event and death were examined across sexes and manners of death. Findings between this report and others, such as provincial and territorial reports, may vary due to differences in case definitions, methodology, available data sources, and/or data analysis.